First English edition 2008 by Quality Chess UK LLP. Translated from the German edition Ti gersprung aufDWZ 1500 ! Copyright © 2007, 2008 Arrur Yusupov All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. ISBN 978- 1 -906552-0 1 -5 All sales or enquiries should be directed to Quality Chess UK LLP, 20 Balvie Road, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 7TA, United Kingdom e-mail:
[email protected] website: www.qualitychessbooks.com Distributed in US and Canada by SCB Distributors, Gardena, California, US www.scbdistributors.com Distributed in Rest of the World by Quality Chess UK LLP through Sunrise Handicrafts, Smyczkowa 4/98, 20-844 Lublin, Poland Cover Photo: Nadja Jussupow Photos on page 63 reprinted with the kind permission of Nadja Jussupow Photo ofJudit Polgar on page 2 1 1 reprinted with kind permission of the organizers of the World Championship tournament in San Luis Argentina 2005. Photos ofViktor Korchnoi and Parimarjan Negi on page 2 1 1 reprinted with kind permission of the organizers of Corus Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands Translated by Ian Adams Typeset and editing by Colin McNab Additional editing: Jacob Aagaard and John Shaw Cover design and generic typeset: Augusto Caruso of Caissa Italia Printed in Estonia by Tallinna Raamarutriikikoja LLC
Build Up Your Chess with Artur Yusupov The Fundamentals
Artur Yusupov Quality Chess www.qualitychessbooks.com
CONTENTS
Key to symbols used Preface
4
5
Introduction
6
1
Mating motifs
2
Mating motifs 2
8
18
3
Basic opening principles
30
4
Simple pawn endings
44
5
Double check
54
6 7
The value of the pieces The discovered attack
8
Centralizing the pieces
9
Mate in two moves
10
The opposition
64 74 82 92 100
11
The pin
12
The double attack
120
13
Realizing a material advantage
128
14 15 16
110
Open files and Outposts
138
Combinations
148
Queen against pawn
156
17
Stalemate motifs
19
Combinations involving promotion
182
18
Forced variations
164 172
Weak points
192
21
Pawn combinations
202
22
The wrong bishop
212
24
Gambits
232
Final test
244
20
23
Smothered mate
222
Appendices Index of composers and analysts
252
Index of games
254
Recommended books
262
) Key to symbols
l::,. .. X
;I; + ± =+= +-+
t --t
;;0
� co
0
A 0 0 X
?? !! I? ?! #
used
White to move Black to move key square Move to any square White is slightly better Black is slightly better White is better Black is better White has a decisive advantage Black has a decisive advantage equality with the initiative with an attack with compensation with counterplay unclear better is intending only move zugzwang weak point a weak move a blunder a good move an excellent move a move worth considering a move of doubtful value mate
4
Preface It was a pleasure to have Anuc Yusupov working as my second, both personally and professionally. It is therefore an honour for me to write the preface to the new manual Build Up Your Chess with Arrur Yusupov. This new book was created by expanding and improving the original online lessons from the Chess Tigers University. As an honorary member of the Chess Tigers. it has given me great pleasure to see this logical follow-up take concrete form and meet the twin challenges of being bmh a valuable textbook and a bedside book. It was in 1994 that 1 met Artur Yusupov in the semi-finals of the Candidates' cycle in Wijk aan Zee. 1 managed to come out ahead by 4.5-2.5, but I recognized that Artur harboured great potential, both in his chess knowledge and extensive match experience. Anuc's systematic and professional approach ro analysing games was the decisive factor in having him as my second in the World Championship Finals in New York 1995 and Lausanne
1998. His mastery of the methods of the Russian chess school was very helpful in the preparation for the matches, as well as during the matches themselves. It was his idea that J should play rhe Trompovsky in rhe lasr game in Lausanne. I was 3-2 down, bur was able to level the match at
3-3 and thus fotce a play-off. 1 am still vety grateful for everything that Artur did for me. Arrur's vast experience as a trainer convinced him [hat [here is a considerable need for berrer tuition for amateurs. Matching rhe level to (he needs of (he studenr is perhaps not toO difficult, bur (he masterstroke is structuring rhe information in such a way that makes it immediately useful for amateurs. I am naturally enthusiastic about the rich variety of marerial in rhis series, which can help beginners become top amateurs. I wish Artur Yusupov all the best with the publication of the first book in the series Build Up Your Chess with Arrur Yusupov. Making this work available in English means thar even more people who are keen to learn can enjoy it to the full. World Champion, Viswanarhan Anand
5
)
Introduction
During my many years of work as a chess trainer, I have noticed that there are only a few books which are really suitable for most amateur players. Some good books treat individual aspects of the game (middlegame or endgame, tactics or positional play) without paying any real heed to the reader's playing level. This brought about the idea of working out a teaching programme aimed specifically at a certain playing strength. Such teaching programmes, in a brief form and intended as systematic help for trainers, are common only in Russia, where they are very popular. One very well known and much valued example is a publication by Golenischev, which inspired some aspects of my methodology. In 2003 I began a 3-year training programme in my chess academy. Three groups were set up according to playing strength: under Elo 1 500, under Elo 1 800 and under Elo 2 1 00. Each annual stage consisted of 24 teaching modules and 24 tests, plus a final test at the end of the course. This programme was later taken over, in a different form, by the Chess Tigers University and is still being used there. The overwhelmingly positive comments of my students encouraged me to rework this programme in the form of a series of books. In doing so, I was able to make use of many evaluations, corrections and suggestions from my students. While I was redrafting, especially the explanations in the solutions, that feedback from my students was very valuable. This book is the first volume in a series of manuals designed for players who are building the foundations of their chess knowledge. The reader will receive the necessary basic knowledge in six areas of the game - tactics, pOSitional play, strategy, the calculation of variations, the opening and the endgame. The reader will benefit from the methodical build-up in this book, even if some of the material is familiar, as it will close any possible gaps in his chess knowledge and thus construct solid foundations for future success. To make the book entertaining and varied, I have mixed up these different areas, but you can always see from the header to which area any particular chapter belongs. At this point I must emphaSize that just working with this book does not guarantee a rise in your rating. It simply gives you a solid basis for a leap forward in chess ability. You should also play in tournaments, analyse your own games, play through well-annotated games of stronger players and read books on chess (I have included some suggestions at the end of this book). I have also been concerned with another problem area since I moved to Germany: the role of trainers in chess education. In Germany there are unfortunately too few qualified trainers. There is also a widespread opinion that a talented chess player does not need a trainer. I do not share that opinion. I believe that many talented chess players could develop much further, if they had support at the correct time and if they had not left gaps in their learning. Chess is a complicated sport, which has to be studied for many years. It is hard to imagine any other sport without coaches. (Is there a single athletics club or football club that does not have a trainer?) This manual is intended for the many club players who unfortunately receive no support in attempting to master our complicated Sport. In this way it is intended as a substitute for a trainer for those that have none (and a support for trainers), but not an equal replacement for a trainer. I further believe that many chess lovers, who show great commitment to working with young players in chess clubs, will gain with this series of books (as well as with the programme of the
6
( Chess Tigers Universiry) important methodological support and high qualiry training material for their chess lessons. The students will certainly profit from the supplementary explanations given by trainers and from lively discussions about the themes in the books.
How to work with this book First read through the lessons. You absolutely must play through all the examples and all the variations on a chessboard. First think about every diagram position (for at least 5 minutes) and try ro find the solutions on your own. On average, you will need 1 to 2 houts per lesson. However, there is no time limit; some students may need more time for specific lessons. It is important to have a good understanding of the subject. The second part of the lesson is a test with 1 2 positions. The stars near the number of each exercise indicate the level of difficulry and, at the same time, the maximum number of points which you can earn for the correct solution with all necessary variations ( * 1 point). Try to solve the positions without moving the pieces! If you cannot solve the position straight away, you must try for a second time for approximately 1 0 minutes. This time you may move the pieces. You must look for new ideas. On absolutely no account may you get help from a computer! Normally you will also need 1 to 2 hours for each test. Try ro solve all the exercises. Consider each position as though it were appearing in one of your own games and look for the best possible continuation. You do not always have to mate or win quickly. It is sometimes enough to suggest a good move. Especially in the lessons on the opening, it is more important for you to reflect on the position, take a decision and then carefully play through the solutions. This will help you better understand the ideas of the opening. Mistakes are part of the learning process! It is very important to write down all the necessary variations. If you do this you will be able to compare your solution with the one given in the book and you can also see how well you have understood the particular subject. If your score is toO low, we recommend that you work through the chapter again. We also recommend that you play through the solutions, including all the variations, on a chessboard. You will find an explanation of the standard chess symbols used in this book on page 4. =
At this point I should like to express my gratitude to a large number of people who have supported my work in various ways. There is firstly my wife Nadja for the design of the German edition book and her help in working through the solutions, my daughter Katja for many corrections to my German, my chess trainer Mark Dvoretsky, from whose training methods I have learned so much, the Chess Tigers and Hans-Walter Schmitt for their constructive and productive cooperation, Mike Rosa for correcting some mistakes, Reinhold from Schwerin for his proofreading, and finally to Semen Oxman and Oleg Aizman, who gave valuable advice concerning the design of the book. I would also like to thank Augusto Caruso for his elaboration of Nadja's design for the English edition and Ian Adams for translating the book. GM Artur Yusupov
7
1 Contents
Mating motifs
Mate along open lines Anastasia's mate ,/ The Arabian mate ,/ The queen-bishop battery ,/ The queen-rook battery ,/ Boden's mate
,/
,/
\.
In this lesson we shall study various typical maring motifs. This should enable you to exploit any such opportunity in practical play. Mate along open lines This is a very well-known and important moti f It involves two major pieces (rook + queen or tWO rooks) operating along open files or ranks and fo rc i ng the opposing king to the edge of the board. Since it has no way out, the king is mated there. Diagram I-I
8
Em.Lasker - Me er 1900
7
Prague Simultaneous game
6
White finds a forced mate. U�d8t @g7 2.g l d7t @f6 Or 2.. .@h6 3.gh8#. 3.gf8t @ e5 4.ge8t @ f4 If 4 ... @f6, then 5 .ge6#. 5.gd4 t @ g3 6.ge3#
5 4 3 2 1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
This theme is still relevant in modern chess, as can be seen in one of my own games. Diagram 1-2
A.Yusu ov - P'Schlosser Bundesliga 1997
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
l.ge5+Threatening gg5t and mate in a few moves. Black resigned, on account of the following variations: a) l...gd7 2.gg5t @h7 3. �g6t (there is an even quicker win by 3.gh5t @g8 4.gh8#) 3... @h8 4.gh5t gh7 5.gxh7# b) l.. .gfg 2. �g6t @h8 3.l:!h5# Typical for mate along open lines. c) l... �c7 2.gg5t @ h7 3 �g6t (or 3.gh5t @g8 4.l:!h8#) 3 ... @h8 4.gh5t �h7 5.gxh7# .
8
Mating Motifs
( Anastasia's mate This is a spectacular combination, in which the anacking side uses the combined power of queen, rook and knight.
T
Diagram 1-3 8
Diagram 1-3
7
.Gast - E.Bhend
6
Berne 1987
1 ... c!Lle2t! For this mating motif it is important that the knight should occupy the e2-square. 2.i>hl Wfxh2t!! White resigned, in view of 3.lt>xh2l%h4#.
5 4 3 2 a
Next we have a somewhat more complicated example, a variation on the Anastasia theme.
b
c
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T
Diagram 1-4 8
Diagram 1-4
7
Kam shev - Sokols
6
Leningrad 1936
1...c!Lle2t 2.lt>hl Wfxg4!! 3.hxg4 White also loses after 3.f3 c!Llg3t 4.lt>gl, due 4 . . .c!Llxfl S.l%xfl (S .lt>xfl Wff4-+) S .. J''! d4. 3... gh5t! 4.gxh5 gh4#
5 [0
The Arabian mate This is a very old motif in which rook and knight deliver the mate.
4 3 2 a
c
d
e
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T
Diagram 1-5 8
Diagram 1-5
7
T.Cas er - A.Yusu ov
6
Bundesliga 1 999
b
5
1...gxf3!! This exchange sacrifice prepares the discovered check. Nothing is achieved by 1 ...c!Llxg l , due to 2.c!Llxd2. 2.gxf3 c!Lld4t 3.i>hl Or 3.l%g2 c!Llxf3t 4.lt>hl gdlt S.l%gl gxgl#. 3...c!Llxf3 9
4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
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I-'
..-<
Tactics 1
) Diagram 1-6 Here we can see the rypical siruation for the Arabian mate. White has no satisfactory defen ce to the threat oHlh2#. Mter 4.Elg2 there comes simply 4... E:d 17 5.Elgl Elxgl#. 0-1
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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The same mate occured in a game by the first world champion.
T
Diagram 1-7
Diagram 1-7
8
Vienna 1 860
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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T
Diagram 1-8 8 7 6
1...�h4!! White is left without a defence after this spectacular move 2.Elg2 Mter 2.Elxh4 comes 2 ...Elgl# while 2.';!tg2 loses to 2 ... Elxg4t 3 .'i hf3 "IWh3t 4.@e2 d3t 5.@d2 ixf2-+. 2...�xh2t! A deflecting sacrifice. 3.Elxh2 Elgl# The queen-bishop battery If the queen is placed in front of a bishop on a diagonal (e.g. b l -h7), the defender needs to be doubly careful! The following simple example illustrates the strength of this battery.
-
5
Diagram 1 -8 .
4
Ro s
-
T To7b� .
Stockholm 1897
3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1...e4-+ The knight is attacked and cannot move, in view of the mate on h2. However, White played on until the bitter end. V!i:lfd4?! �h2# 10
Mating Motifs
( The piece which is defending against the queen bishop battery can also be eliminated or deflected.
T
8 7
Bad Lauterberg 1 977
1 ... .!L\xd4! Thanks to the queen-bishop battery, this simple move wins a piece! 2.exd4 Our theme occurs in the variarion 2.ixd4 /tld2! 3.\Wdl (if 3./tlxd2, then 3 ... \Wxh2#) 3 ... /tlxf3t 4 .ixf3 \Wxh2#. 2... .!L\xc3 3.1hc3 lhe2 0-1
6 5 4 3 2 a
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7
Diagram 1-10
6
h
l::,.
Diagram 1-10
The queen + rook battery The queen + rook battery is of course no less dangerous than the one with queen + bishop.
8
�I l
5
1 .\Wh2 Black has no defence againsr \Wh8#. 1-0
3
4
London 1 8 1 8
2 a
b
c
d
e
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g
8
Diagram 1-1 1
7
Variation from the game
6
h
l::,.
Diagram 1 - 1 1
In the following position White carries out a standard attack.
5 Toluca Interzonal Tournament 1982
4
l .ixg7! 1 Jlxg7t l'lxg7 2.ixg7 is also good. 1 ...l'lxg7 2. l'lxg7t i>xg7 3.l'l glt i> h8 4.\Wg4+ And Black cannot protect both rhe g7- and the g8squares. (But not 4.\Wh6, because of 4 . l'lf7.)
.
11
�
Ii. h
Diagram 1-9 Diagram 1-9 ; M.Ge usel - G.Sosonko
r. I >
3 2 1 a
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Tactics 1
�
t �-------------------------------------------- Ex. 1-7-h8 2.Wixh7t!! �xh7 3.1:!hl # (1 point)
Ex. 1-6 Rotterdam 1 990
Mate along open lines l .Wixh6t! gxh6 l . ..li>g8 2.1"lxg7# 2. 1:!hxh6 #
Ex. 1-2 England - USA 1 896
( 1 point)
The queen + rook battery U:!h8t!! �xh8 2.Wig8 #
Ex. 1-7
(1 point)
London 1883
Ex. 1-3
The queen + rook battery l . l:!f8t! Wixf8 2.Wixh7#
Simultaneous game 1934
(1 point)
Boden's mate l.Wixc6t!! bxc6 2.j,a6#
Ex. 1-8
(1 point)
Ex. 1-4
Hanover 1 983
Mate along open lines l .Wixh6t! 1 .1"lxh6t?! is not so good, due to 1 ...li>g8. 1...ixh6 Or 1 . . .li>g8 2.1"lxg7#. 2. l:!xh6# (1 point)
Siegen Olympiad 1 970
The Arabian mate l.Wixf8t!! Black res igned, in view of 1 ...li>xfS 2.1"le8t Ii>g7 3.1"lg8#. (1 point)
Ex. 1-9
Ex. 1-5
.Loew-;;nth'al - A:-Anderssen London 1 8 5 1
Minsk 1976
The Arabian mate l. c!LJg6t! hxg6? 1 ...li>g7 is better, but after 2.ltJxf8t
The queen + bishop battery 1...c!LJh3t! And White resigned, on account of:
( 1 point)
15
Solutions
)
Ex. 1 - 1 1
2 ...�xfB 3.liJxh7t White is also winning. 2.ghlt And Black resigned, in view of 2 ... �g7 3.gh7#. (1 point)
Prague 1 977
The queen + bishop battery l.liJxd5! exd5 2.gxe7+(2 points) White has eliminated the most important defensive piece and Black has no good defence against the threat ofiWh7#. Mter 2 ... f5 White can simply take the bishop on d7 with a winning position. 1-0
Ex. 1-10
--� New Orleans 1 857
Anastasia's mate A difficult one which contains various mating motifs. 1...liJg3!! 2.1Mlxd4 If2.iWxh7, then 2 ...liJde2#. ( 1 point) 2...tDe2t 3.d2 Wfh6t 3.i>c3 l%e8 4.l%hg1 t MB 5.�g7t Wfxg7 6.l%xg7 i>xg7 7.Wfxc6+-. 2J!glt (1 point) Mate follows 1-0
Ex. 2-2
(1 point) And Keres resigned, in view of 2 ... Wfxb l t 3.i>h2 l%gB 4.Wfxh7t i>xh7 5.l%h4#. Other moves would not be so good, for example 2.l%gl allows 2 ...Wfd2!± and the black queen can disrupt White's attack on the c1 -h6 diagonal.
Scotland 1 994
Ex. 2-5
Greco's mate 1.tLlg5! h6 2.Wfg6!
Zchakaja 1 982
( 1 point) Black resigned, he loses in all lines: 2 ...hxg5 3.Wfh5# or 2... Wfxc4t 3.l%xc4 hxg5 4.h4+-. 2.tLlf7t? would not be so convincing. 2 ...l%xf7 3.Wfxf7 tLlc6+
Blackburne's mate l.Wfh5!! (t.Wfxh7#) 1...gxh5 1 ...tLlf6 2.�xf6+- or 1 ...h6 2.Wfxh6+-. 2.hh7# ( 1 point)
Ex. 2-3
Ex. 2-6
Roslavl 1989
Eppingen 1 988
Damiano's mate l..J�h8t 2.'i!;>gl !;hlt!!
Damiano's mate 1.!;h8t!! 1 .g6 (you only get 1 point if you chose this move) is less precise, in view of l..J!:f5 2.Wfg4 Wfa5!? 3.Wfh3 (or 3.l%hBt i>xhB 4.Wfh3t �h4 5 .Wfxh4t i>gB 6.Wfh7t i>fB) 3 ...Wfxc3t! 4.Wfxc3 �b4-+. Another sub-optimal move is l .Wfh5 (also only 1 point). This gives Black time for counterplay, e.g. l . . .Wfa5 2.g6 Wfxc3t 3.i>f1 l%xf2t 4.i>xf2 Wfxd4t 5 .�e3 Wfb2t 6.M3 (or 6.i>gl Wfxalt 7.i>f2 Wfb2t=) 6...tLlxe5t 7.i>g3 tLlxg6+!
(1 point) White resigned, in view of 3.i>xh1 l%hBt 4.i>gl l% h l t 5.i>xh1 WfhBt 6.i>gl Wfh2#.
Ex. 2-4 Budapest 1 95 0
Lolli's mate 1.!;f4! (1 point) 26
� "
Z
Solutions
--------��. � � �
Ex. 2-9
After U�hSt!! White has a forced mate: l ...mxhS (or l ...mf7 2.V9h5t g6 3.V9h7t meS 4.V9xg6#) 2.V9h5t mgS 3.g6 13f5 4.V9h7t mrs 5.V9hS#. (2 points)
NOlWay 1992
Blackburne's mate 1.�xh5!!+- (�V9h7#) Black resigned. If 1 . ..�xe5 then 2.V9xh7#, or if l ...h6 then 2.V9xg6+-. And if l ...gxh5 then 2.�xh7t mhS 3.li:Ig6#, but of course not 3.li:Ief7t gxf7 4.li:Ixf7t mxh7 5.li:IxdS±. (2 points) If you chose the less incisive l .li:Ixh7!?, you only get 1 point. Black can try 1 ...gxf4, although after 2.li:Ixg6 White is still winning.
Ex. 2-7 H.S atz - A.Lund Bavaria 1 989
Greco's mate l .tilg5!± (1 point) 1...O-O?! Leads to the immediate loss of the game. Black would do better to sacrifice a pawn: l ...d5 2.exd5±. 2.V9h5+- h6 3.tilxf7 .ixflt Or 3".13xf7 4.V9xf7t mh7 5 . 0-0+-. 4.';!;>dl This is even stronger than taking the bishop. 4 ....ig4t If 4"Jhf7, then 5.V9xf7t mhS 6.V9xf2+-. After 4" .VgeS there comes 5.li:Ixh6t mh7 6.li:If7t mgS 7.V9hS#. 5.�xg4 13xf7 6..ixf7t c;!;>xf7 7.1:;(1+ White is clearly winning. Next came: 7 ... tild4 8J�xflt c;!;>g8 9.hh6 g6 10.tild5 �c8 1 1.tilxe7t Black resigned.
Ex. 2-10 G.Buckie - N.N. London 1 840
Legal's mate l .tilxe5! Equally good is l .li:Ixd4! �xdl 2.�b5t (2 points) 2".V9d7 (2".li:Ic6 loses to either 3.�xdS+- or 3.li:Ixc6 V9xg5 4.li:Ixe5t mdS 5.li:Ixf7t+-) 3.�xd7t mxd7 4..ixe7 �xe7 5.li:If5+-. 1...Ldl? 1 ...dxe5 2.V9xg4 is more stubborn, with the following variations: a) 2".V9a5t 3.b4 cxb4 4.�xe7 �xe7 5.V9xg7 gfS 6.V9xe5+b) 2".li:Ixc2t 3.mdl li:lxal 4.�b5t+c) 2".f6 3.�xf6! li:Ixc2t (if 3".V9a5t, then 4.b4!. After 3".gxf6 there follows 4.li:Ixf6#.) 4.mfl li:lxal 5.�xg7+2.li:If6t! gxf6 3..ixf7# (2 points)
Ex. 2-8 Correspondence Olympiad 1979
Pillsbury's mate l...�f3!! (�V9g2#) 1 ".�xg2 is not so good, due to 2.f4!00 (but not 2.mxg2 gg5t 3.mh3 V9f3t 4.mh4 V9g4#). After l ...gg5? comes 2.f3±. 2.gxf3 13g5t 3.c;!;>hl hf3# (2 points)
Ex. 2-1 1 Mlada Boleslav 1 992
Lolli's mate l .tilf3! ( I point) 27
Solutions Ex. 2-12
1 . '1&£8 A somewhar rougher response is 1 .. g5 2.li:lxg5 :!'lxg5 3.'I&xg5+-. I f 1 ...'I&xf6. rhen 2.li:lg5 Wg7 3.li:lxf7t +-. 2.xf7 8.Wh5t g6 9.Wxc5±. Diagram 3-2 Please compare this position with the one after move 9 in the game, which is shown i n diagram 3-3. 6. lLlxf7? 6.Wh5 would be a better alternative. The attack on the sensitive f7-square is unpleasant, but Black can bring another piece into the game - the queen. Let us consider the various possibilities for Black: a) 6 ... lLle5? is not good, on account of 7.liJe6!! (if 7.ib3, then 7 ... d6 with the threat of 8 ... ig4) 7 ... dxe6 8.Wxe5 and after 8 ...ifS there follows 9.ixh6+-. b) 6... 0-0 leads to complicated play after 7.ixf7t Elxf7 8.liJxf7 ib4t 9.c3°o. c) 6 ... Wf6!?+ is better. 7.liJxf7 is met by the intermediate check 7 ...ib4t. d) 6 ...We7!? is also good, with the same idea of answering 7.lLlxf7 with 7 ...ib4t. And if 7.0-0 then simply 7. . .d6+. 4
•..
31
UJ
T
Diagram 3-1
a
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«'. t
Opening
1
t)
< I "
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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8
6... tLJxf7 7.ixf7t �xf7 8.Wih5t g6 9.Wixc5 Diagram 3-3 Compared to the position in diagram 3-2. the black knight has already been developed to c6 and is much more actively posted than on g8. This difference allows Black to take the initiative. 9...d6 With his attacks on the white queen Black gains time for the development of his own pieces. Another very good move would be 9... d5!? (I.Shumov), to open the game. The following variations show the dangers of being behind in development: a) 1 0.exd5? �eBt 1 1 .It>fI b6! and if 12.1¥fxc6? then 12 ...�a6t 13.c4 dxc3t 1 4.lt>gl �el#. b) 1 0.e5? �eB! I l .f4? (0 1 1 .0-0) l l ...liJxe5! 12.fxe5 1¥fh4t 13.lt>fI �xe5 14.1¥fxc7t It>e6! ( l 4...�e7 1 5 .1¥ff4t+-) 1 5.�d2 �d7 (the check on f5 would also be good. but Black wants to bring more pieces into the attack) 1 6.1¥fc5 �b5t! ( l 6 ... �fBt also wins: 17.1¥fxfB �b5t I B.lt>gl �el t 19.ixel 1¥fxe l t 20.1¥ffI 1¥fxfI#) and in the game Chernov - Oplackin. USSR 1 972, White resigned. in view of 1 7.1¥fxb5 �fBt I B.lt>gl 1¥ff2#. White's best chances of survival are in the endgame after 1 0.1¥fxd5t 1¥fxd5 I l .exd5 liJb4 12.lt:la3 liJxd5 (or 12...�eBt 13.lt>dl �d7+) with only a slight advantage for Black. lo.Wib5 An even worse continuation is 10.1¥fd5t? ie6 I l .Wib5 liJe5 12.f4? due to 1 2 ...ic4! 1 3.1¥fb4 (after 1 3.Wixb7 there also comes 1 3 ...1¥fh4t) 1 3 ... 1¥fh4t 1 4.g3 1¥fg4 1 5 .1¥fd2 (1 5.M2 1¥fe2t 16.lt>gl 1¥ffI#) 1 5 ... liJf3t 0-1 Greville - D.Harrwitz, Paris IB45. 10 �e8! Black develops his pieces very quickly and exerts pressure on the centre. 1 1 .Wib3t? Diagram 3-4 'In moving about with the queen White is losing some more time. White should certainly have castled.' - R.Reti 1 1 ...d5 Black fights for the centre. A good alternative is 1 1 ...�e6!? 1 2.1¥fxb7 1¥fd7 with the initiative. ..•
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32
Basic Opening Principles �.
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12.8 Here White would be better getting his king into safety with 12.0-0 gxe4+. 12... e2 �d6 9.IWel does not achieve much. 8. lZlxg6 hxg6 9.IWe2 g5! Black attacks the weaknesses on the kingside. 10.'itlb5t?! Diagram 3-8 White is already badly placed, but this attempt to win a pawn gives his opponent a decisive lead in development. lo ...lZlc6! 1 1 .'itlxd5 1 l .IWxb7 ii:lge7 1 2 . .itb5 0-0 1 3 ..itxc6 1'3bS 14.IWa6 l'3b6 gives Black a great lead in development. 1 1...gxf4 1 2.ib2 fxe3 13.'itlxe4t IflfB The black king is safe here. 14.�d3 'itlh4t! Black develops his pieces with tempo! 15.lfl dl );e8 16.'itlg2 1 6.�xg7t c;t>xg7 1 7.IWxeS ii:lge7 l S.IWd7 l'3dS loses the queen. 16...lZle5 17.ie2 lZl f6-+ Diagram 3-9 Black has now brought all his pieces into play, whilst the white rooks are undeveloped and the king is in the centre - even the knight still has to be developed. Furthermore, there is the threat of l S . . .ii:lxg4. 1 8. lZl c3 lZl exg4 19.);gl lZlf2t 2o. lflc1 exd2t 2 1 .lfl bl 2 1 .c;t>xd2 �f4t 22.';!;>el ii:l2g4t 23.c;t>dl c'Zle3t wins the queen. 21...1'3h7! 22.lZl d5 Such an unprepared attack is easily repulsed. 22 ... lZlxd5! 23.1xg7t l'3xg7 24.'itlxg7t b2 IWd4, followed by a discovered check, and mate. 35
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Opening I
) The best that can be achieved in the opening is: In as short a time as possible, we must bring the maximum number of pieces into play, seize control of the central squares (e4, d4, e5, d5) and, at the same time, hinder our opponent's attempts to achieve the same goals. The absolute minimum is: We must develop the pieces rapidly and casde to get our king to safety, aim our pieces at the central squares and, at the same time, hinder our opponent from achieving either a clear lead in development or complete control of the centre. The players, especially White, should try to dictate events right from the start of the game, also called seizing the initiative. The initiative is an advantage! In the following difficult test you do not always have to win at once (though sometimes you can!). Try to punish your opponent for his mistakes in the opening, or at least make the best move for your side.
36
Exercises
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Solutions Ex. 3-1
9.0-0!± 0-0 If 9... d6, then 10.We2 ItJc5 1 U�e l 0-0 1 2.b4 ItJd7 1 3.exd6+-. 10.W e2 ttl c5 l 1.b4+- ttl a6 Or 1 l ...ltJa4 1 2.ib3+-. 1 2.d6! cxd6 13.exd6 ttlg6 14.�g5 �e8 1 5.�e7 1 5.Wb2!?+- is also good. 1 5...i> h8 Better is 1 5 ... ltJxb4, but 1 6J'le l still wins. 16. ttlc3 ttlxb4 17.gael ttlc6 1 8.Lffi �xe2 19. 9xe2 ttlxfS 20.ge8 i>g8 21.ttld5 g6 22. ttle7t 1-0
1 .f4 e5 2.fxe5 (2.e4!?) 2 ... d6 (2. . .'&h4t? 3.g3 We4 4.1tJf3+-) 3 .exd6 (3.ltJf3!?) 3 ... �xd6 4.1tJc3?? (04.ItJf3oo) White has ignored the safery of his king. The punishment comes at once. Diagram Ex. 3-1 W 4... h4t! ( 1 point) 5.g3 �xg3t! Or 5 ...ixg3t! 6.hxg3 Wxg3#. 6.hxg3 �xg3#
Ex. 3-2
-�u we Amsterdam
(
Ex. 3-3
utte
1 927
P.Mor h - A.Meek New York
1 .e4 e5 2.1tJf3 ItJc6 3.ic4 ic5 4.c3 ItJf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 �b6? (06...�b4t) Diagram Ex. 3-2 White has a lot of good moves here. For the developing moves 7.ltJc3, 7.0-0 or 7.�g5, you get 1 point. Bur it is much better to take the opportuniry to extend your position in the centre with tempo. 7.d5! (3 points) Another good move is 7.e5!? (2 points), and Black still has to find the rypical move 7... d5!? and then B.exf6 dxc4 9.d5 ItJb4 10.Wa4t c6! 1 1 . 0-0t. (Not 1 1.Wxb4? because of 1 l ...ia5!) 7...ttl e7 Other moves are no better: a) 7... ltJxe4? B.dxc6 �xf2t 9.i>fl +b) 7... ltJa5? B.�d3 (�b4) B ...c6 9.b4 ttlg4 1 0.0-0 ttlxfL l 1 .gxfL ixf2t 12.lt>xfL Wb6t 13.lt>fl Wxb4 14.Wc2+- (�ia3, id2) c) 7...�a5t B.id2± 8.e5! ttle4?! The knight will be artacked here, costing Black even more time. The correct move is B ...ltJg4! 9.0-0 d6t.
1857
l .e4 e6 2.d4 c5 3.d5 e5? 4.f4 d6 5.ttlf3 ig4?! 6.fxe5 �xf3? 7.Wxf3 dxe5 B.�b5t ItJd7 9.ttlc3 ttlgf6? (09... a6) 1 O.�g5± �e7? (0 1 0 ... id6) Diagram Ex. 3-3 Only 1 point for castling either short or long. Black can reply, for example, 1 1 ...a6 to free himself from the pin. White must exploit the pins at once and attack quickly. What he has to do is open the d-file and bring his rooks into the attack. l 1 .d6! (3 points) 1 1. ..ixd6 12.0-0-0+White is already winning, as the following variations will prove: a) 12 ...ie7 1 3.ixf6 �xf6 14.gxd7+b) 12 ...We7 1 3.ixf6 gxf6 14.ttld5 We6 1 5.ltJxf6t +c) 12 ... i>e7 1 3.ixd7 and now 1 3 ... lt>xd7 14.ltJb5+- or 1 3 ...Wxd7 1 4.ltJd5t i>fB 1 5 .ltJxf6 gxf6 1 6.Wxf6+-. d) 1 2...a6 1 3.ixd7t Wxd7 1 4.�xf6 gxf6 1 5.Wxf6+1-0
39
Solutions
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u
Ex. 3-4
Ex. 3-6
P.Mor h - A.Mor h
Armando - A.Yusu ov
New Orleans match 1 849
World Junior Ch, Innsbruck 1 977
1 ...CtJd4!
Here too, White has to act quickly in order to exploit the exposed position of the black king. If l .!3el (1 point), then Black can answer with 1 ...0-0-0. Somewhat better is 1 .�b5!? (2 points) 1 . . .c6 2.d5! cxb5 3.CtJe5! with an attack. The correct move is: l .d5! (3 points) 1 ...hd5 1 . ..�g4 2.We l t CtJe7 3.CtJe5+1 . ..0-0-0 2.CtJe5 We8 3.dxe6 Wxe6 4.!3el+2.CtJxd5 �xd5 3Jlelt+Black resigned, on account of the following variation: 3 ... c;Yd8 (or 3 ...c;Yd7 4.�b5t+-) 4.�e4 Wxd1 5.l"1axd1 t cj;>c8 6.�f5t c;Yb8 7.!3d8#.
(2 points) This combination gives Black a strong initiative. 2.CtJ c7t Take 1 extra point if you took this reply into consideration. 2.CtJf6t cj;>e7 3.lt:ld5t cj;>e6!+ 2 ...�xc7 3.�xa8t �e7 Black now has a lead in development, and is energetically attacking his opponent. Also possible is 3 ... �c8!? 4.�dl?! 4.c3 b4! 5.cxb4 i'tfb6-t 4... CtJxc2t! Less good is 4... b4?! 5.!3xd4! exd4 6.CtJc4 �g7 7.Wxa6� A. Ingram - B.Caiferry, England 1 977. But Black could consider 4 ...�g7!? 5.�xc2 hc2 6.�d5 6.!3d2 �h6! 7.Wxb8 Wa5-+ 6....ixdl 7.�xdl .ih6 8.�bl �c8! 8 ... Wa5t 9.b4 9..ie2 i'tfa5t 10.b4 1"1c1 t 1 1..idl �xbl 12.bxa5 !3al-+ 13.a4 bxa4 14.0-0 d5 1 5..ic2 �xf1 t 16. �xf1 a3 17..ib3 d4 1 8.�e2 e4 19.8 d3t 20.�f2 e3t 2 1 .c;Yel .ig7 0-1
Ex. 3-5 P.Mor h - G.L telton Birmingham simultaneous 1 8 58
l .e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.CtJf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.CtJe5 d6 6.CtJxg4 �e7 7.d4 �xb4t 8.CtJf2 �xf2t 9.cj;>xf2 CtJf6 1 0.CtJc3 We7 1 1 .�xf4 CtJxe4t 1 2.lt:lxe4 Wxe4 Diagram Ex. 3-5 Here too, White can exploit the unsafe position of the black king in the centre for a quick attack. 13..ib5t! (2 points) 13 ... c;Y fB 13 ... c6 1 4.!3e l +- or 13 ...cj;>d8 14.�g5t+-. 14..ih6t � g8 15.�h5! .is 16.� d2! .ig6 17.�e11+1-0
Ex. 3-7 .Van dcr Wicl - A.Yusu ov Telechess Olympiad 1978
1 ...d5!+ (3 points) With this strong move Black prevents his opponent castling, strengthens his position in the centre and prepares an attack. Of course 1 . ..�xf3? 2.gxf3 i'tfh4t would be wrong, due to 3.cj;>e2 e4 4 ..ic6+-. If 1 . ..e4 (1 point), then 2.0-0 exf3 3 ..ic6. 40
" �
Solutions
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6...tDxd7 Now comes a pretty finish. 7.�b8t!! tDxb8 8. 1! d8#
2.,ie2 2.lbxd5? loses to 2... ixd5 3.Wxd5 Elalt-+. If2.0-0?, then 2 ...Wc5t-+. 2 ...We5 3.Wd2 e4! 4.fxe4 After 4.f4 there follows 4 ... d4!. 4 ... dxe4 5.,idl e3 6.�d3 If 6.We2 Eld8 7.0-0, then 7 ...Eld2-+. 6...�g5 7.lb e2 .hg2 8.Elgl �h4t 9.�e2 �f2#
Ex. 3-10 A.Yusu ov
- Khatib
Tunis ( I ) 1 979
White should prevent his opponent from castling. The c4-pawn is not important. 1 .,ih6! (2 points) White is better, since the black king is left in the middle. Only 1 point is given for 1 .i.xc4, since after 1 . ..0-0;!; Black brings his king to safety.
I .d4 f5 2.lbf3 lbf6 3.g3 e6 4.ig2 il.e7 5.0-0 d5 6.c4 c6 7.lbbd2 0-0 S.lbe5 lbbd7 9.lbd3 il.d6 1 0.lbf3 WeS I l .Wc2 b6?? Diagram Ex. 3-10 Only 1 point for the positional move 1 2.if4, since instead White can win a pawn! Always check out the active moves first! 12.cxd5! (3 points) i 12... b7 After 1 2 ... cxd5 there comes 1 3.Wc6+-. 13.dxc6 �e8 14. lb g5 1! e8 1 5.�a4+- .he6 16..he6 1! b8 17.,if4 �e7 18.1! ael i.xf4 19. tDxf4 �d6 20.�b3 1-0
Ex. 3-9
Ex. 3- 1 1
Ex. 3-8 Variation from the game
M.Botvinnik - L.Schmid Leipzig Olympiad 1 960
P.Mor h - 'All ies'
Khatib
- A.Yusu ov
Paris Opera 1 858
Tunis (6) 1 979
(3 points) White takes the chance to mount an attack against the opposing king with a piece sacrifice. l .lbd5 would be wrong, due to 1 ... bxc4. Only 1 point for the modest retreat 1 .il.e2 Wb4=. 1...cxb5 2 ..hb5t lb bd7 Or 2 ... @d8 3.0-0-0t @c8 4.Eld3 Wb4 5.Elc3t @b7 6.Wxf7t We7 7.Wc4+-. 3.0-0-0 1! d8 4.1!xd7! This is how to attack! White gives his opponent no rest. 4 ... 1!xd7 5.1!dl+- �e6 6.hd7t Also good were 6.Wxe6t fxe6 7.il.xf6+- and 6.ixf6+-.
l .lbf3 lbf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 il.b4t 4.lbc3 c5 5.e3 lbc6 6.a3 ixc3t 7.bxc3 d6 s.id3 e5 9.Wc2 We7 1O.d5 Diagram Ex. 3-1 1 10 ...e4! (2 points) Black fights for the initiative. 1 0... lba5? is bad, due to 1 1 .Wa4t. But retreating is toO passive: 10 ... lbbS I l.lbd2;!; or 1 0... lbdS I l .lbd2;!;. 1 1 ..he4?! I l .dxc6 is necessary, continuing 1 1 ...exd3 ( I l ...exf3!? 1 2.gxf3 bxc6=) 1 2.cxb7! ixb7 1 3.Wxd3. Although White has an extra pawn, Black is well placed, since the c4-pawn is a hopeless weakness.
l. tDxb5!
41
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Solutions 1 1 ...\Wxe4 12.\Wxe4t �xe4 13.dxc6 bxc6+ (Xc4) 14. �gl? �a6 15.8 �xc3 16.i> f2 �a4-+ 17.e4 hc4 1 8.�f4 i>e7 19.� h3 1hb8 20.:Bhdl :Bhd8 21.:Bd2 � b2 22.i>gl f6 23.�g3 :Bb3 24.:Bbl � a4 25.:Bc1 d5 26.exd5 cxd5 27. � f4 g5 28.� h5 �d3 29.:Bel t i> f7 30.�f2 d4 31. � g3 :Bxa3 32. � e4 c4 33.�g3 �xe4 34.:Bxe4 :Bal t 0-1
must attack. One good solurion is the rapid mobilization of all his forces by I I .ie3 (2 points) then 12.0-0-0. Bur there is the even more energetic: 1 1 .\¥lc4! Threatening lLle6t. (3 points) l 1 ...g5 A better defence would be 1 1 ... lLlg4, bur White has 1 2.ixg4 Wixg4 13.Wixc7 lLlc6 1 4.Wid6t i>gB 1 5.�e3±. 12.\Wxc7 Another very strong move is 12.Wid4! gxf4 13.�xf4+- Wih3 14.0-0-0! (I4.Wixf6 Wie6t±) 14...Wixf3 1 5.Wixf6+-. 12...�a6 13.\Wd6t i>g7 14.�e3 :Be8 Or 1 4 ... gxf4 1 5 .:Bgl t+-. 15.0-0-0+Black resigned, on account of (he variation 1 5 ... gxf4 1 6.:Bhglt i>hB 17.id4 :Be6 IB.WifB#.
Ex. 3-12
Bednarski - S dor Wroclaw 1972
l .e4 e5 2.lLlc3 lLlf6 3.lLlf3 �b4 4.lLlxe5 Wie7 (4... 0-0) 5.lLld3 �xc3 6.dxc3 Wixe4t 7.ie2 Wixg2? (7 ...0-0 B.O-O;!;) B.if3 Wih3 (B ... Wig6 9.Wie2t \!?fB [9 ... i>dB) 1 0.lLle5±J 1 0.if4t) 9.lLlf4 Wih4? (o9 ...Wif5) I O.Wie2t \!?fB Diagram Ex. 3-12 White has a lead in development and
Scoring Maximum number of points is 3 1
25 points and above ···u.. . . > Excellent 20 points and above· · · u . . . . > Good 1 5 points ··· · u u· ··� Pass mark
Ifyou scored less than 15 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 42
C I:-I":APTER Contents
4 Simple pawn endings
Promoting the pawn Key squares ,/ The opposition ,/ Rook pawns ,/ The rule of the square ,/
In this lesson we will look at some important elements of pawn endings: key squares, the opposition and the rule of the square.
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Promoting the pawn The best way for the king to fight against a pawn is by occupying a square in its path. In this case the
stronger side must try to position his own king in front of his pawn.
6. ...
Diagram 4-1 8
Diagram 4-1 Key squares are those which, when controlled by the king make the win possible. In the posi tion in the diagram the key squares are c6, d6, e6. The kings will do battle for these squares. This is an example of the opposition, i.e. the kings are foce to foce. Whoever has the move will have (0 leave the opposition. For Black, his survival depends on having this opposition! It is the only way for the black king to defend the key squares.
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Examp le 1 White to play Black to play
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For the evaluation of such positions, it is very important for the white pawn to be on the 4th rank, and not to have gone beyond the centre line as yet. (Please compare this position with that in the next diagram!) If Black's (0 move, White wins. If White's to move, he cannot win. Having the move is a disadvantage here! This is called mutual zugzwang.
Black to move: 1 ...'i!te7 2.i> c6 White seizes the key square c6 and wins.
2 ...i> d8 3. i>d6 c;t> c8 4.i> e7 Flanking. 4...i> c7 5.d5+-
White to move: 1 .'i!t e5 i> e7! 2. i>d5 i> d7! 3.i> c5 i>c7! Opposition.
4.d5 i>d7 5.d6 i>d8! But not 5 ... c;t>cS?? due to 6.@c6 @dS 7.d70. We can see why it was important for Black that
Simple Pawn Endings
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the white pawn had not yet crossed the centre line: it means that the black king still has a square on the 8th rank to which it can retreat! 6.hl! 1tl f2 stalemate. (5 ... g2t 6.lt>gl =) 5. f6 is also good. 3 ... c;!{e7 If3 ...We6, then only 4.h4! We7 5.Wg7!+-. But not 4.Wg7? due to 4 ... wf5 and the black king will attack the h-pawn. White must also keep the opposing king away from his pawn. 4. c;!{g7! c;!{e6 5.h4 c;!{ fS 6.h5 c;!{gS 7.h6+-
�
These elementary endings must be thoroughly undersrood. Then you will be able to find the solution in more complicated situations. Diagram 4-7 You should be able to evaluate such positions quickly! l.c;!{ a6! c;!{ d7 2.W b7 We7 3.W c7 White wins the d-pawn. 3 c;!{e8 4. c;!{xd6 W d8 The white pawn is already on the 5th rank. The opposition is not important here. White wins no matter whose move it is! 5.c;!{ e6 c;!{e8 6.d6 c;!{ d8 7.d70+•.•
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Diagram 4-8
1.c;!{ b4!? There are other logical moves which do not lose! l .Wb2= l .Wc2= l .Wc3= 1...c;!{e3! Black spots the trap! If 1 ...We4??, then 2.Wc50. 2.c;!{ c3! But not 2.Wc5?? We4-+. 2 W e4 White loses the d-pawn. But he can keep the opposition and defend the key squares c3, d3, e3. 3.W c2! 3.Wd2?? Wxd4-+ 3 ..Wxd4 4.c;!{ d2= Wc4 5.Wc2 c;!{d4 6.c;!{ d2 W e4 7.W e2 d4 Black has no other way. Now White can easily draw. 8. Wd2 d3 9.W dI! 9.We l ?? We3 1 0.Wdl d20 9 ... We3 10. c;!{ el d2t 1 1.c;!{dl c;!{ d3 stalemate. .•.
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Example 8
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Endgame 1
) The rule of the square For situations in which both kings are far away from the pawn, the rule ofthe square is a useful concept.
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Example 9
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Diagram 4-9 1 ...@f4= The rule goes as follows: If the king is within the pawn's square, or if the king can enter it, then it can catch the pawn; otherwise it cannot. The square for a pawn on b4 is b4-f4-fS-bS. When a pawn is on the 2nd rank and still has the option of its initial double advance, the square begins one rank ahead of the pawn. 2.b5 @e5 3.b6 @d6 4.b7 @c7
=
Diagram 4- 10
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1 925
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The black king is inside the square of the a-pawn (a3-f8), but White has a trick! l .d5! 1 . a4? lYe4= 1. ..exd5 2.a4 @e4 2 . . d4 3.a5 d3 4.lYe1 !+3.a5+The black pawn blocks the path into the square of the a5-pawn.
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Example 10
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Now you are ready ro start the test. It should help to assimilate what you have learned in the lesson. Studying these simple pawn endings lays the foundations for understanding more complicated endgames.
48
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Ex. 4-1
White wants to win the h7-pawn, while at the same time barring the way of the black king to the saving square f7 (see Example 4). 1 .@f7? does not win: l ...@e5 2.@g7 @e6 3 .@xh7 1!lf7=. 1. \t>e4 2.l!lg7 \t>f5 3. \t>xh7 \t> f6 4.l!lgS+-
N.Gri oriev 1 925
l.b4! (1 point) But not U�a2? b4-+ and Black wins, since the b-pawn has already crossed the centre line and the black king is in front of the pawn. 1 ...\t>xb4 2.\t>b2!= Opposition.
•.
Ex. 4-5 N.Gri oriev 1.\t> b3!
Ex. 4-2
( 1 point) The kings are already batding for the opposition. I .g4? is wrong due to l ...l!lc4=. 1. ..l!le5 2.1!l c3 l!l d5 3.\t>d3 l!l e5 4.\t> e3 1!l f5 5.\t> S \t> g5 6.l!l g3+( 1 point) Ie is important to gain the opposition on the g-file, in order to decide the struggle for the key squares f4, g4 and h4. 6 \t>f5 7.\t>h4 Flanking. White occupies the key square. 7...\t> f6 S.\t> h5 \t> g7 9. \t>g5 \t> t7 10.\t> h6 \t>gS 1 1 .1!lg6+-
(2 points) White must fight for the key squares d3, e3, f3 (see Example 1). If the black king gets in front of the pawn, White must be able to seize the opposition by occupying the appropriate square. For example, l .\t>d2? would be wrong due to l ...\t>d4, when Black gains the opposi tion: 2.\t>e2 I!le4 3.1!lf2 l!ld3! 4.l!lel l!le3-+. 1... l!le4 Or l . ..l!ld4 2.@d2!=, while if l. ..l!lc4 then 2.l!le2! @d4 3.l!ld2=. 2.\t>e2!= Opposition.
•..
Ex. 4-6 N.Gri oriev
Ex. 4-3
1925
The key squares for the b4-pawn are a6, b6 and c6. White can get his king in front of the pawn and gain the opposition! 1. \t> e2! \t>e7 2.\t> b3! \t> d6 3.\t> a4! (1 point) The only way! If 3.@c4?, then 3 ... @c6=. 3 ...\t> e6 4.\t> a5 \t> b7 Or 4 ... l!lc7 5.l!la6+- and White has seized the key square. 5. \t> b5+( I point) White gains the opposition (see Example 2).
1 .b5! ( 1 point) Ie is important that the white pawn crosses
the centre line. If l .@e4?, then l ...b5! and Black draws as in Ex. 4- 1 . 1...\t> b7 2.\t> e4 \t> e7 3.\t>e5! (1 point) But not 3.@d5? @d7 4.@e5 @e7=. 3 l!l d7 4.\t> d5! Opposition. 4 ... \t> e7 5.\t> e6 Flanking. 5 ... \t>b7 6.\t>d6 \t> bS 7.l!le6 \t> a7 S.\t>e70 \t> aS 9. \t>xb6 \t>bS 10.\t> a6!+And continues as in Example 2. ..•
Ex. 4-4 (1 point) 51
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Solutions
)----l.h6!
Ex. 4-7
3.�dl!
(2 points) White wins with a breakthrough. Nothing would be achieved by 1 .�f2? f4=. And I .g6? hxg6 2.h6?? would even lose to 2 ...�f6-+, as the black king is in the square of the h-pawn. l...�e6 2.g6! hxg6 3.h7+-
Ex. 4-10 ---------------------L . Pro kcs 1 .�g5!
Ex. 4-8
l...�h8!? If 1 ...'t!;>g8, then 2.'t!;>xg6+-. 2.�h6!
N.Gri ori cv 1 923
(I point)
(1 point) 2 ...g5 2 ...'t!;>g8 loses: 3.'t!;>xg6 and now 3 ...'t!;>f8 4.f7+- or 3 ... 't!;>h8 4.�f7!+-. 3.f7 And mate next move. 3.'t!;>xg5 also wins: 3 ... 't!;>h7 (or 3 ... 't!;>g8 4.'t!;>g6 c;!;>f8 5.f7+-) 4.'t!;>f5 (4.'t!;>h5+-) 4 ... 't!;>g8 5.'t!;>e6 't!;>f8 6.f7+-.
1.�b3! (I point) I .c5? loses to l ...dxc5 2.'t!;>b3 a2 3.'t!;>b2 't!;>b4! 4.'t!;>al 't!;>b3 5.a5 c4 6.a6 c3 7.a7 c2 8.a8� c1�#. 1 ...a2 2.� b2! (I point) If 2.'t!;>xa2?, then after 2...'t!;>xa4 3.'t!;>b2 �b4, Black either wins the c4-pawn and has a reserve tempo (as in Example 3), or he gains the opposition after 4.c5 dxc5-+. 2 ... �b4 3.�al! �xa4 Black has nothing better. 4.c5! (1 point) Now the pawn sacrifice leads to a draw. 4...dxc5 5.�xa2 Opposition. 5 ...�b4 6. �b2 �c4 7.�c2=
l.e5!
( I point)
3...�e4 4.�e2=
Ex. 4-1 1 � 1 . d8 There is a slower win with l .'t!;>d6 't!;>c8 2.'t!;>e7 (bur not 2.c6? due to 2... 't!;>b8! 3.c7t 't!;>c8=) 2 ...'t!;>b8 3.'t!;>d7 't!;>a8 4.c6+-. This also earns 1 point. I .c6? leads [0 a draw: 1 . ..bxc6 2.'t!;>xc6 't!;>c8=. 1 ...� a8 2.c6! (I point) 2 ...bxc6 2 ...'t!;>b8 3.c7t+3. �c7+-
Ex. 4-9
(2 points) White must sacrifice the pawn at once. l .'t!;>c2? is followed by l ...'t!;>d4 2.e5 't!;>xe5!-+. 1 ... dxe5 2.� c1! Bur not 2.'t!;>c2? 't!;>c4-+. 2 ...�d5 Or 2 ... 't!;>d4 3.'t!;>d2 and White gains the opposition.
1 .h4!
Ex. 4-12
(1 point) White deflects the black king. l .'t!;>d3? loses: l ...'t!;>xh2 2.'t!;>e2 't!;>g2-+. 1. ..�g3 2.�d3 �xh4 3.� e2 �g3 4.�fl = See Example 4.
52
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( Scoring Maximum number of points is 22
1 8 points and above······· ·· ··.. · ··..·�Excellent
1 5 points and above · ·····..··· · .. ····· ··· · ·· . Goo d
12 points · ···· ·· ······· ·· ··········· · · ······ ·····..··· · ·. Pass mark
Ifyou scored less than 12 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
53
) ,'. ;; �
C I-IAPTER Contents
5 Double check
v' Mate by double check v' Mating combinations involving double check v' Decoying
Double check is a simultaneous attack, in which two pieces check the opposing king. This form of double attack can only be achieved via a discovered check. A double check is particularly dangerous for your opponent: the only move he can make is a king move. A mate by double check is also easily overlooked.
A.Meek
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N. N.
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USA 1 85 5
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l.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.tDf3 d5 4. tDc3 dxe4 5.tDxe4 .ig4 6.Wle2 .ixf3?? Diagram 5-1 Black hasn't seen the trap. 7.tD f6#
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H.Lohmann - R.Teschner 8
West German Ch 1 950
7
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3. tDc3 dxe4 4. tDxe4 tD d7 5.tD f3 tDgfG 6.tDfg5 ie7 7.tDxf7 xf7 8.tDg5t g8 9.tDxe6 Wle8 10.tDxc7?? Diagram 5-2 A typical mistake: White was obviously only expecting a queen move. lo ...ib4#
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The double check is often an important part of a mating combination. Since the opponent must move his king, this speeds up [he arrack decisively. You can even pur one of [he pieces giving check en prise!
Double Check
( Diagram 5-3
t::,.
Diagram 5-3
Maczuski - Kolisch
8
Paris 1 864
l .Wfd8t!! A typical decoy sacrifice, which prepares a deadly double check. 1 ...mxd8 2.1g5t m e8 3J�d8#
7 6 5 4
Diagram 5-4
3
P.F dman - V.Vukovic
2
Podjebrad 1 936
1 .l%xg7!! Breaking open the e5-h8 diagonal. The line 1 .Wfxf5 1%xf5 2.ixf5 Wff8± would nor be so strong. 1...1xc2 Or l ...1%xg7 2.Wfxf5+-. 2.1%g6t! 2.1%xf7t 'i!g3 lWxe5t 6.lWf4 lWxf4t 7.exf4 hxg6-+.
Variation from the game Bundesliga
1 996
Ex. 6-4
Black has a material advantage and White must fight for a draw. l.�xf5t!! gxf5= stalemate. (2 points)
Amsterdam
l .gxf7t!
Ex. 6-2 Madrid
1 940
(I point) Black resigned. He loses in all variations: a) 1 . ..gxf7 2.lLlxe6t+b) l ...'it>g8 2.lLlxe6+c) 1 ...'it>h6 2.l':!xh7t 'it>xg5 3.h4t And now: el) 3 ...1t>f6 4.gfl# c2) 3 . . .�g4 4.ie2t ge (or 4...�g3 5.lLle4#) 5.ix8t Wf5 6.gm lWf6 7.g4# c3) 3 ...1t>f5 4.l':!fl t 'it>g4 5.ie2t l':!e 6.ix8t 'it>f5 (6 ... 'it>g3 7.lLle4#) 7.ie2#
1973
1.�xh6! An equally good way to play is l .b4 �c6 2.�xh6!+-. 1. ..�xh6 2.�xgS (2 points) 2...�g7 2 ...gff8 3.�xe6t+- or 2... fxg5 3.ixg5t+-. 3.c!lJxf7 White has won a rook and two pawns for two knights. 3...�xf7 4.b4 c!lJb7 S.Af4+- as 6.bxaS gaS 7.a4 bxa4 Ulxa4 gxaS 9.gb4 gaS 10.gb6 �dS 1 1.�bl ga7 12.�g2 gb7 13.gxb7 c!lJxb7 14.�b6 �d7 IS.�c7!+The exchange of queens leaves the knight marooned on b7. 1-0
Ex. 6-S
1851 1.�e2! ( 1 point)
1...h3 l ...'it>g3 2.lWg2# 2.�h20+Ex. 6-6
Ex. 6-3
1964 Hastings
1996
1 .�d7!
l ...�eS!
( I point)
(2 points) 1 ...lLle7 Hig2 lLld5 3.l':!aglf± is not convincing. The text move is more precise than 1 ...lLla5 (I point), since White has fewer options. After 1...lLle5! White resigned. On 2.dxe5 (2.l':!agl loses to 2 ... lLlxf3t 3.�dl lLlxgl-+, whereas if 2.l':!xf6 then 2 ... lLlxf3t 3.'it>d l
The threat is mate! 1...bd3! 1 ...ie8 2.c3# 2.c3t! ( I point) White cannot take the bishop due to stalemate, bur he can win the piece in another way! 71
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Solutions iJ
Ex. 6-9
2...�e4 Or 2 ... �e4 3.ltJc5t+-. 3.tLleSt+-
Kislovodsk
1982
1 . ..e4!-+
Ex. 6-7
( 1 point) Black brings his knight into the attack via the e5-square. 1 .. .WI'h l t 2.WI'fi+ would not be so strong. 2.�e2 If 2.WI'c5, then 2 ... ltJe5! 3.WI'xe5 Wl'h 1 t- + . 2...�h5t 3.�el ltJeS 4.�e7 ltJd3t 0-1
1 93 5 1.�b2t (1 point) ( 1 point) This is srronger than 2.WI'xh8?! >i;>xa7 3.WI'xh5 �xd3 4.�a5t �b7 5.�b4t >i;>a6 6.�xf4 c5=. 2..J"�xb8 3.axb8tLlt! And White wins the queen. 1-0
Ex. 6-10 Tilburg
1 987
(2 points) Black intends 2 ... c5 to exploit the pin on the d4-knight and win a piece. White resigned in view of 2.�d3 c5 3.1U2f3 �d6-+ pinning the knight. Ex. 6-1 1
Ex. 6-8 1940 1.tLld2! (2 points) If 1 .�c3t Wl'c2 2.WI'e3t. then 2 ...�b2;!;. Only a draw can be obtained after l .WI'xb 1 t >i;>xb1 2.lUd2t �c2 3.ltJxb3 �xb3, since Black quickly brings his king to f7: 4.>i;>f2 >i;>c4 5.lt>f3 �d5 6.lt>g4 It>e6 7.lt>xh4 1t>f7= (see Chapter 4) . The move 1 .ltJd2! wins some valuable tempi compared to this variation. 1. ..�xal 2.tLlxb3t �bl 3.tLlxal �xal 4.�g2+Another good move is 4.>i;>f2+-. 4 ... �b2 S.�f3 �c3 6.�g4 �d4 7.�xh4 �eS 8.�g5 �e6 9.�g6! �e7 10.�g7! �e6 1 1.h4 �f5 12.h5 �g5 13.h6 1-0
Variation from the game Dos Hermanas
1999
1.h7 �g7 Or l...ltJd5t 2.lt>d6 It>g7 3.lt>xd5 It>xh7 4.>i;>e6+-. 2.f6t!+( 1 point) Ex. 6-12 World Open, Philadelphia
2002
The far advanced pawns decide the game. 1.e6! (1 point) 1...dxe6 l ..J�a6 loses after 2.ltJb4 �a5 3.cxd7+-.
72
Solutions 2.d7+- ad5 3.dSYlV gc4t 4.1!Id3 l!'!e4 If 4 . Jlxf4, then 5.Wc7t+-. 5.h5!? This is even better than 5.�xd5 h5 6.Wb7t 'it>h6 7.Wxa7+-. Black cannot construct a fortress. 5 ...gxh5 6.Wxd5 Now the f5-pawn is weak. 6...-I III
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Ex. 7-1
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Ex. 7-5
R.Fischcr - B.S assk World Ch, Reykjavik (8) 1 972
Manchester 1 890
1..!LId5!
1..!LIh6!
(1 point) 1...'I1!1fxd2 2. .!LIxe7t �f8 3J�hd2 �xe7 4.l3xc4 l3bl t 5.i.f1+1-0
( 1 point) 1...'&xh3 1 ...gxh6 loses to 2.'&xe6+-. If 1 ..J:le7 2.'&xe6 l3xe6, then 3.tLlf7t mg8 4.tLlxd8+-. (1 point) 2..!LIxf7t �g8 3.gxh3 �xf7 4.f4+1-0
Ex. 7-2 Correspondence 1959
Ex. 7-6
1.i.a5!+(2 points) But not l .exd6??, allowing 1. .. '&xg2# or l.�e 1 ?? allowing 1 ...'&f1#. 1...hd5 L.'&xc2 loses to 2.1J.xc7#. 2.'&xf2 hg2t 3.'&xg2 l3xg2 4.�xg2+1-0
S.Tarrasch 1...d3! ( 1 point)
2.hf6 2.'&xd3 '&xb2-+ 2... dxe2-+
Ex. 7-7
Ex. 7-3
Domuls - Kazhoks Tartu 1 979
Daugavpils 1 980
1...l3h5t!!
1 .i.xd6!+(1 point)
(1 point) With the idea l . ..'&xd6 2.1J.xh7t mxh7 3J�lxd6+-. 1-0
A superb decoy. 2.�xh5 tLlf4t-+ (1 point) The correct discovered attack. Of course not 2 ... tLlg3t?? 3.'&xg3 . White resigned in view of 3.Wg5 ttJe6t (intermediate check) 4,mf5 l3xel-+.
Ex. 7-8 Bansdorf - Li ola Helsinki 1 957
Ex. 7-4
1.'&xc8t!!
Variation from the game
1...�xc8 2.i.h3t+1-0
London (12) 1 858
1..!LIxe6 fxe6 2.i.g6t!+(1 point)
80
( 1 point)
n
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Solutions
-------(- �� m
Ex. 7-9
1...ixb2 l ...exd5 2 ..txf6 g6 3.exd5+2.c!t'le7t ..tm 3.c!t'lxc6+1-0
A.Tolush - V.Antoshin Leningrad 1 956
1. .. !::l e 1 t 2.'it>f'2 c!t'le4t ( l point)
Ex. 7-12
3.'it>xel 'lWxg6-+ 0-1
P.Trifunovic - MAaron Hoogovens Beverwijk 1 962
Ex. 7-10
1 ..tg8!+( l point) Threatening both 'lWh7# and !::lxdS. 1...!::l xd2 l ...'lWxgS 2.1'lxdS .tfS 3.1'l l d7 +- or l . ..'it>xgS 2.1'lxdS+-. 2.'lWh7#
Stockholm 1 980
1.c!t'lxg6!+(l point)
1-0
Ex. 7-1 1 Correspondence 1 982
1.c!t'ld5! ( l point)
•
•
Scoring
•
Maximum number of points is 15
1 3 points and above · ····· ··u .. Excellent d 1 1 poi nts and above ·· · ······· ······· .. Goo . .. Pa ss mark u 8 point s········ · u u •••
•••• • ••
• • ••• •• • •
•
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u
Ifyou scored less than 8 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. Sl
'-J
C �.APTER Contents
8 Centralizing the pieces
The role of the centre in chess ,/ Centralizing a piece ,/ King in the centre (in the endgame) ,/ Queen in the centre ,/ Knight in the centre ,/
As we already know, in the game of chess the centre plays an important role. Whoever controls the centre can also attack successfully on the flanks. Dominating the centre is an important strategic goal in the opening and in the middlegame. But even in the endgame you cannot ignore the centre.
In Chapter 6 we learned that the relative value of a piece increases if it is positioned in the centre, for example, a knight in the centre controls at least twice as many squares as it does on the edge of the board. Also the activity of the pieces is considerably greater when they are in the centre. Even if the pieces only control central squares, they are mostly doing useful work and can very quickly be activated or centralized. But a centralized piece can often dominate the whole position.
8 7 6
Diagram 8-1
5
S. Tarraseh A.Rubinstein -
San Sebastian 1 9 1 2
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The dark-squared bishop is occupying a powerful post in the centre and its influence can be felt on both wings. Rubinstein very cleverly makes use of this advantage. 1..J'!b2! Black wants to exchange rooks. 2 .!"lxb2 .ixb2 3 . .!"ld2 .id4 4.tLlh3?! 4 .!"lc2 would be better. 4...@e6! 5 .!"le2 @d6+ His opponent can find no antidote to the extremely powerful bishop. Of course, not 5 . . .ixd3?? 6.Eld2. 6.f5?! .!"le8! 7..idl .!"lxc2t 8.Lc2 @e5 With the exchange of rooks, Black's advantage grows, since the black king can now take an active part in the game. 9.g4 �e3 10.'�f3 @d4-+ Diagram 8-2 The king's invasion of the centre decides the game. Black won this endgame easily. •
Diagram 8-2
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Centralizing the Pieces
( Sudden centralization of his queen saved White in the next game.
00
Diagram 8-3
6.
Diagram 8-3
P. Kcrcs - R.fischcr
8
Curacao 1 962
7
1.�e5!! Fischer was only expecting 1 .�5t �xf5 2.�xg2 �f4t! 3.�g4 (3.cj;>h3 �h6t!-+) 3...�xg4t 4.cj;>xg4 cj;>g6!-+. But 1 .�g4! gl� (l ...�h l t) 2.�f5t! cj;>h8 (2.. .�x5 3.�g7t!! cj;>xg7 stalemate) 3.�e5t (Centralization!) 3 ...�g7 4.�b8t �g8 5.�e5t would also be good enough for a draw. l...�h l t The main line is l .. .�f2t 2.cj;>h3 gl � (2. . . g1 tiJt 3.cj;>g4=) 3.�f5t cj;>h6 (3 ...�xf5t 4.�x5t �g6 5.�xg6t cj;>xg6 6.cj;>g4= Opposition!) 4.�f6t cj;>h5 5.�g6t! �xg6 6.�g5t!! cj;>xg5= stalemate. 2�h3 �xh3t 2 ... gl� 3.�h5t cj;>g7 4.�g6t!= 3.�xh3 gl� 4.�e7t �h8 5.�f8t �h7 6.�f7t Black cannot win: 6.. .�g7 7.�xg7t! cj;>xg7 8.cj;>g3! M6 9.M4 (opposition) 9 ...cj;>e6 1 0. cj;>e4 cj;>d6 I I .cj;>d4 cj;>c7 1 2.cj;>d5 cj;>b7 1 3 .cj;>c4! cj;>c7 14.cj;>d5 cj;>d7 1 5 .cj;>e5=
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The next example also demonstrates the importance of controlling the central squares.
Diagram 8-4 Kecskemet 1 927
The black queen on c6 is very active. White exploits tactical motifs to win the struggle in the centre. 1.�h5! Threatening to win a pawn after 2.Elxc5 �xc5 3 .�xe8t. 1 .h3 c4 2.�c2 Elg8t! would be worse. 1...E1e7 If 1 . ..cj;>g7, then 2.Elc3 with an attack. 2.E1dl (�Eld8t) 2 �g6 3.�8 (��f8t) 3 ...cj;>g7 4.�d5! •••
83
;.!i :> "1 >-I Il1 il
00
Strategy 1
) Diagram 8-5 Now compare this position with the position in the previous diagram! 4...Wfh5 5J�d3 WfO 6.:gg3t 'i!?h8 7.Wfxe5 Wffl t 8.Wfgl :gO 9.h3 e4 10.'i!?h2+And White won in the endgame.
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For the knight especially, it is particularly valuable to have a good position in the centre. A knight is a close-quarters fighter and has to be btought near to the enemy. It can intervene rapidly in the action if it has a ptotected central position. The central squares d4-d5-e4-e5, and c4-c5-f4-f5, are especially suited to that. (But if we get the chance to get a protected post even nearer the enemy position, we should grab it.) The following game illustrates how important a well-placed knight can be.
Paris 1 900
1.d4 d5 2.e4 e6 3.lLlc3 lLlf6 4.ig5 ie7 5.e3 0-0 6'lLlf3 b6 (6 .. h6!?) 7.id3 ib7 8.cxd5 exd5 9'lLle5 Pillsbury's favourite strategy, known as 'posting up'. The knight is supported first by the d4-pawn and then by the f4-pawn. 9.0-0 is the alternative. Diagram 8-6 9 ... tilbd7 9 ... c5!? 10.£4 e5 The only way to put White's strategy to the test would be for Black to make use of a central square for his own knight: 1 0 ... ttJe4!? at once (or slightly later) would be required. For example 1 1 .�xe4 dxe4 1 2.�xe7 �xe7 1 3.0-0 f6 (or 13 ... ttJf6 and then c5) with a normal position. 1 1.0-0 e4? A typical mistake. Black removes the pressure on the centre. His queenside initiative will come too late. Better is 1 1 ...cxd4 1 2.exd4 ttJe4!? 12.�e2 a6 13.Wff3! This controls the e4-square. 1 3 .a4 is also not bad. 13 ... b5 14.Wfh3 g6
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84
Centralizing the Pieces
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Black must defend against Itlxd7. If 14 ... ltlxe5?, then 1 5.dxe5! (this is even better than the stereotyped 1 5.fxe5) 1 5 ... ltle4 1 6.ltlxe4 dxe4 1 7.gadl 'We8 1 8.!xe7 'Wxe7 19 .gd7+-. 1 4... h6? would be bad, in view of 1 5.�xh6! gxh6 1 6.'Wxh6, followed by gf3-g3. Diagram 8-7 IS.5! White opens lines for an attack. IS ...M 16.fxg6! hxg6 16 ... bxc3? 17.gxf6! Itlxf6 1 8 .hf6 fxg6 1 9.'We6t+17.�h4!? Even simpler is the immediate 1 7.ltlxd7! Itlxd7 (or 17...'Wxd7 1 8.%Vxd7 Itlxd7 1 9.�xe7 bxc3 20.�xf8 cxb2 2 I .gabl +-) 1 8.!xg6! fxg6 19.%Ve6t I!Ig7 20.he7+-. 17 ...bxc3 18.�xd7! The knight has done a good job. 18 ...�xd7 19.9xf6!+- as Black cannot fend off White's attack: after 1 9... cxb2 there follows 20.gafl , threatening �xg6, while if 1 9. . .!xf6?, then 20.!xf6+-. 20.13af1 The immediate 20.�xg6! would be very good: 20... fxg6 2 l .gxg6t I!If7 22.gfI t l!Ie8 23.gxfSt �xfS 24.%Vh5 and Black cannot ward off the double check without suffering losses, e.g. 24 ... '1917 25 .ge6t+-. 20...13a6 Diagram 8-8 21.,hg6! fxg6 22.13xf8t � 23.13xf8t! Black resigned: 23 ... l!IxfS 24.%Vh8t I!If7 25 .%Vh7t I!IfS (neither 25 ...l!Ie8 26.'Wg8# nor 25 . . . l!Ie6 26.%Vxg6# is any better) 26.%Vxd7+In the following test, try to find a way either to centralize or to make use of the central positions of the pieces. Think the way you would in a game and then simply make up your mind. There does not always have to be an immediate win! The test is difficult, but perhaps it will help you to pay more attention to the centre in the future. When in doubt, take the decision which favours the centre! 85
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Exercises
t) Ex. 8-1 <
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Exercises 6.
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6.
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)0 Ex. 8-10-(
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Ex. 8-1
:Be8 13.lt>h2 It>c7 14.:Bc1 t It>d7 lS.f4± 1 5.if6+- would have been even better (Nimzowitsch), but despite that White won the game.
Mar del Plata 1960
l.E:eS! (3 points) 1 .E:xf8t (only 1 point) would not be good, as 1...ixf8 2.liJe5?? (or 2.E:e8??) allows 2 .. .'Mfxg2#. If l .liJe5?, then 1 ...E:xf2 2.Wlxf2 ic5! 3.Wlxc5 Wlxg2#. 1...E:d8 Black loses in all variations: a) 1 . . .Wlg6 2.E:xe7+b) 1 .. .Wlh4 2.E:xfBt ixf8 3.Wlxh4+c) 1 . ..if6 2.Wld6!+2.Wle4! Wlh4 3.:Bf4+Black resigned. After 3 ... Wlg3 comes 4.:Bxe7+-.
Ex. 8-3 Belgrade 1 959
l.liJgS! (1 point) The e6-pawn is weak. 1...�h6 If 1 ...c5, then 2.liJdxe6! ixe6 3.ixf6 exf6 4.liJxe6± and 4 ...Wlxe6 10ses ro 5.E:e l +-. (1 point) 2.lL\dxe6 hgS 3.lL\xgS 0-0 4.Wld2 �f5 S.:Bael±
Ex. 8-2
Ex. 8-4 .
San Sebastian 1 9 1 2
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Russian Ch, Kiev 1 903
1.lL\d4!
1.f4!:t
(3 points) l .Wld3? would be bad, due to 1 . ..ib5-+. For 1 .ib2 you get 1 point, as this move is not so strong as l .liJd4, since it allows Black to swap off the good knight. White is ready to sacrifice a pawn in order to blockade the black passed pawn and to place his own knight on a splendid central position. 1...:BhS After 1 .. .ixb4 2.Wld3, followed by ie3 and E:b1 (Nimzowitsch), White gets a strong queenside initiative, since he can also use the now open b-file for an attack. 2.'!Wd3 :Bdh8?! 3.h3 gS?! 4.�e3 g4 S.liJf5 �bS After 5 ... Wld8 comes 6.liJxe7 Wlxe7 7.Wld4± (Nimzowitsch). 6.Wla3 Wla6 7.'!Wxa6 ha6 8.lL\xe7 �xf1 9.:Bxf1 gS! 10.£3! gxh3 1 1.g4 :BSh7 12.hgS
(2 points) The knight is well-placed in the centre. It needs ro have its position secured. White is aiming for a set-up in the centre such as we saw in the game H.Pillsbury - G.Marco. Only 1 point for the moves l .Wlh5 or l .liJxg6. l. .. lL\dxeS?! A better move would be 1 ...c5 2.Wlf}:t. 2.fxeS �c8 3.'!WhS �e6 4.liJe2! Wld7 Black threatens ig4. S.h3 �d8?! Better is 5 . . .c5. 6.lL\f4± �e7 7.:Bac1 The immediate 7.:BB is stronger. 7...cS 8.:B£3 c4 9.�bl :Bae8 10.:Bcf1 �d8 1 1 .lL\xe6 '!Wxe6 12.�f5 '!We7 13.h4 as 14.e4!+- '!Wb7 IS.Wlg4 dxe4 16.he4 '!We7 17.�dS! lL\h8 18.hc4 Wlb4 19.b3 bS 20.�el Wla3 21.hbS :Be7 22.�c4 �b6 88
Solutions Ex. 8-7
23.�h1 Wlxa2 24.e6 f6 25.d5 1c5 26.1c3 lLlg6 27.hS 1-0
A.Rubinstein - ESamisch Marienbad 1 925
l .bS!
Ex. 8-5
(2 points) White must secure the dS-square. l . tlJdS ( I point) would not be so good. due to 1 ...c6, nor l .1"ldS (1 point). because of 1 ... f4=. 1. ..lLle5 2.lLld5;l; h6 3.1'la1! gxa1 4.gxal g4? 5.f4!± lLlg6 6.1'la7 gO 7.id4! �h7 8.1'la8 gd7 9.1b2 h5 lo.Wlc3 WlO See Exercise S-S.
A.Anastasian - A.Yusu ov AeroRor Open. Moscow 2003
l ..J�e6! (2 points) 1 ...tlJd6 ( I point) would not be so good: 2.1'ld7 Wlxd3 (2 ...1'lcS? 3.WlxcS!) 3.1'lxd6! 1'lxd6 4.WlxeS=. 2.Wlc8 lLld6-+ 0-1
Ex. 8-8
Ex. 8-6
A.Rubinstein - ESamisch Marienbad 1 925
A.Rubinstein - S.Tarrasch
l.lLle3!
Karlsbad 1 923
(3 points) White wins a pawn by force. For the good moves Wld3 or Wld4. intending e2-e4. you get 2 points. 1...WlfS 2.lLlxf5+- d5 After 2 ...WlxfS comes 3.1'lxdS! and if 3 ...gxdS. then 4.Wlg7#. 3.cxd5 Wlxf5 4.gxd8 ge7 S.ge8! gd7 6.e4 WlO 7.ghBt lLlxh8 8.Wlxh8t �g6 9.f5t �gS l o.1cl#
l.1e4!;l; (2 points) The centralization of the bishop improves White's position. l.1'lb7!? would not have been bad either. or l .1'lb l!? intending to double rooks on the 7th rank ( I point). On the other hand, a check on c4 would not improve White's position. 1...gd7 2.ga8 gdd8 3JHl! Wld6 If 3 ...Wlxfl t 4.Wlxfl 1"lxfl t S.�xfl 1'lfSt. then 6.l!te2 tlJd7 7.1'laS±. 4.1'lxfSt gxfS S.�g2 Wlb4 6.Wld3 �h8 7.ga7 Wlb2t 8.l!th3 Wlb6 9.1'la8 gd8 lo.Wlc4 tlJd7 1 0 ...Wlxe3? I l.Wlb4!+1 1.Wlc6!?± gxa8 I l ...Wlxc6?? 1 2.gxdSt+12.Wlxa8t tlJb8 l3.WldS Wlc7 Black intends Wldlt. 14.1f5! lLlc6 1 5.Wlc4! Wld6? Better is I S ...Wlb7 1 6.Wle6 tlJe7 17.WlxeS±. 16.WlO!+Threatening WIest. 16 Wld8 17.Wlg6 1-0
Ex. 8-9 •
• •
Stockholm 1 962
1.,bb6! Wlxb6 2.lLldS ( I point) The knight is a monster on dS. 2 Wld8 3.f4! Not 3.tlJxe7t? WJxe7 4.WJxd6??, on account of 4 ...1'lfdS-+. 3 ... exf4 4.Wlxf4 Wld7 5.Wlf5!± S.tlJf6t?! gxf6 6.gxf6 I!thS± would not be quite so clear. •..
•..
S9
00
Solutions Ex. 8-10
Ex. 8-12
USA Ch, New York 1 963
Monte Carlo 1967
1.tDe5!+-
1...i.e4!-+
(2 points) Only 1 point for l .�aS or I .tDxe4. The centralization of the knight is much stronger. The threat is 2.liJxf7. 1...tDxfl?! After l ".liJxg3 2.fxg3 'iWxg3 comes 3.l"ld3 'iWf4 4.l"lf3 'iWe4 5.liJxO +-. If l ...liJxc3t!?, then 2.bxc3! l"lg8 (or 2".liJg4 3.liJhS! 'iWfS 4.'iWxfS exf5 5.liJxO+-) 3.liJxO±. 2.l"ldfl! Black resigned in view of 2" .'iWxg3 3.l"lxf2 (�l"lf3) 3" .'iWe3 4.l"le2 'iWf4 S.liJxO+-.
(3 points) l ...h6 (2 points) would not be so strong, on account of 2.hc4! (if 2.ig4 then 2".i.d6) 2".'iWxc4 3.'iWxeSt @d7 4.'iWxg7t mc8 S.l"lcl Lg2t 6.mxg2 'iWg4t 7.@fl 'iWgl t 8.@e2 and it is not clear whether Black can win the game. After l .. .e4?! there comes 2.'iWal i.d4 (if 2".c3, then 3.ivt �d7 4.l"ldl) 3.'iWc l +! . For centralizing the queen b y 1 . ..'iWe4 you get 1 point. The strong bishop move strengthens the black position and fends off White's attack. 2.i.g4 If 2.�fS hfS 3.'iWxe5t. then 3".md7 with the following variations: a) 4.'iWxg7t mc6 (another good move is 4".@c8 S.l"le l i.d7-+) S.'iWf6t id6 6.'iWxfS 'iWxfS 7.l"lxfS l"lb8-+ b) 4.'iWxf5t 'iWxfS S.l"lxf5 mc6-+ 2...l"lb8 3.�dl Threatening �a4 t. After 3.�e2 there follows 3".�xg2t! 4.@xg2 l"lb2-+. 3 ... �d7 4.l"lf7t �e6-+ White resigned. After S.l"lxg7 there comes S" .hg2t 6.mxg2 l"lb2t 7.@h l 'iWdSt-+. And if5.l"lfl , then Black has S".l"lb2 6.ig4t WdS 7.�f3 ixf3 8.gxf3 l"lxa2-+.
Ex. 8- 1 1 Havana 1966
1 .tDxa6! +(2 points)
1...i.xh3 l . ..bxa6 loses more quickly to 2.l"lxc6 'iWd7 3.l"lxa6t @b7 4.l"la7t @b8 S.l"la8t @b7 6.'iWa6#. 2.e5 tDxeS Or 2".fxe5 3.liJcSt @b8 4.l"lc3!+-, intending l"la3. 3.dxeS fxeS 4.tDcSt �b8 S.gxh3 e4 6.tDxe4 'iWe7 7.l"lc3 bS 8.'iWc2 1-0
90
( Scoring
00
-.h--A--4�e-- .
Maximum number of points is 27
points and aboveu u u • Excellent d • Goo poin ts and above· ···· · · ·u • Pass mark points· · ·························· ····u • • • •••
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Ifyou scored less than 12 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
91
9 Contents
Mate in two moves
.;' Calculating short variations .;' Possibilities for your opponent .;' Exercises with mate in two moves
The aim of this lesson is to improve your calculation of shorr variations. It is more important to find a lot of options in the first few moves than to calculate long variations. Most mistakes occur in the early moves in variations. What is the use of calculating a long and correct variation if your opponent has a much better reply on move one?
You must develop your skill at calculating short variations, while at the same time taking into account the possibilities available to your opponent. This skill should reduce blunders. Exercises with mate in two moves are very well suited for training in the arr of calculating short variations with great accuracy. Before reading the accompanying text, try to find the correct solution in all the examples! Note down all the variations you have calculated for each position, and then compare your variations with those given in the text.
Diagram 9-1 8
S.Lo d
7
1 859
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1 .1Wa50 �d7 1 ...ie6 2.WeS#; 1 ...ifS 2.iLlxf5#; 1 ...ib7 2.iLlfS#; l ...ie7 2.WeS#; l ...�d6 2.WdS#; l . . .icS 2.Wal#; l ...ig7 2.Wxb4#; l .. .�h6 2.Wxb4#; l . .Jgd7 2.iLlfS#; 1 ...E1d6 2.Wxb4#; 1 ... E1dS 2.WfxdS#; 1 ... !3e7 2.Wxb4#; l ...E1e6 2.ii:lfS#; l ...!3eS 2.WxeS#. 2.1Wd5#
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Positions with few pieces are basically simpler, but it often happens that, even after thinking for a long time, one does not see the solurion. When that happens, you have to check out every possible move.
Mate in Two Moves
(')
( Diagram 9-2
6.
Diagram 9-2
.Abbott
8
1 902
1 .�h8! �f4 The other three variations are as follows: l . . .@h2.�f5#. That means: l ...@h5 2.�f5#, l . ..@h3 2.�f5# or l . ..@h4 2.�f5#. 2.�d4#
7 6 5 4 3 2
Here are another six positions with mate in two moves to warm up with. To find the solutions here, you need a little imagination (or a lot of patience).
1 a
Diagram 9-3
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Diagram 9-3
-----V.-.Af -;k
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8
1978
l .Eld3! �el l. ..itl- 2.Wfg3#; l ...elWf 2.El8#; l ...elEl 2.El8#; l ...el� 2.Elf3#; l . ..elitl 2.Eld2#. 2.�g3#
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a
Diagram 9-4
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Diagram 9-4 8
1 959
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l.Ela8! �xa4 l ...El- 2.@b7# 2.�b6#
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Calculating Variations 1
) Diagram 9-5 V.Che izhn 1987
8 7
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l .�bl! c!Llf4 (or c!Lle5, c5, b4, f2) If 1 ...liJb2 (or liJc1, ell, then 2.iWh7#. 2.�f2#
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f::::.
Diagram 9-6
Diagram 9-6
8
1881
7
1 .�a2! �g4 (or �f3, e2, dl) l ...�g6 (or �f7, e8) 2.iWg2#; 1 ...�g6 2.iWg8#; 1 ...�g4 2.iWg2#. 2.�g8#
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f::::.
Diagram 9-7
Diagram 9-7
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1881
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1 .�a6! �xa3 l ...bxa3 2.iWxb5#; l . ..bxa4 2.iWd3#. 2.c!Llc5#
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94
Mare in Two Moves
( Diagram 9-8
t::,.
Diagram 9-8
M.Lokker 1 967
8 7
l .liJb2 liJb4 l. ..liJd4 2.We l#; l ...liJ- 2.Wa4#. 2.Wd8#
6 5
In all me posirions in rhe resr, you have co find mare in [wo moves. There is only one single way co achieve mare in [wo moves. Check our all your opponenr's replies wirh grear care! In your solurion you musr have calculated and written down all possible replies for your opponent.
95
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Exercises
) > Ex. 9-1 - Ex. 9-4 - ":I
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Ex. 9-1
Ex. 9-6 D.Ul�
A.Grin
1 909
1 964
U::ld6! (.M'!e6#) 1. ..0,xa7 1 . .. 0, b6 2.�xe7#; 1 . . .0,xd6 2.�xe7#; 1 . ..�xd6 2.V9b8#; 1 ....ixd6 2.�g7#; l . ...i2.:!'le6#; 1 . . .c4 2.:!'le6#; 1 . . .d4 2.V9xc5#. 2.:!'le6# (I point)
l .�aS! .ig2 1 ...�- 2.h8�# or 1 . ..�h2 2.h8�#. 2.�xg2# ( 1 point) Ex. 9-2 L.Talaber
Ex. 9-7 ------x:BoUach j
1 932
·
1..ie7! �f4 1 ...�d4 2:�e4# 2.�e4#
1 92 1
1.:!'lg4! b4 1 ...�d5 2.:!'lg8#; 1 ...V9c5 2.0,xc5#; 1 . ..V9f5 2.:!'lg8#; 1 .. .V9g5 2.0,xg5#; 1 ...V9h5 2.0,g5#; 1 ...�xd6 2.0,xd6#; 1 . ..�xf6 2.0,xf6#; 1 ...V9f4 2.:!'lg8#; 1 ...V9g3 2.0,xg3#; 1 ...�h2t 2.0,f2#; 1...V9xe4t 2 ..ixe4#; 1 . ..V9d4 2.:!'lg8#; 1 ...�c3 2.0,xc3#; 1 .. .V9b2t 2.0,d2#; 1 ...�al 2.:!'lg8#. 2.13gS# (1 point)
(1 point)
Ex. 9-3 1 928
1..ia3! e2 l ..JI- 2.0,e2# 2 .ic5# •
Ex. 9-S
( 1 point)
-
�---
Ex. 9-4
1 923
1.:!'ld7! �xc6 1 ...�c8 2.cxd8V9#; 1...�xa7 2.c80,#; l. ..:!'lc8 2.cxd80,#; l ...0,xc6 2.cxb8�#; l ... 0,e6 2.c8V9#. After any move by the knight on f7 then 2.c8V9#. 2.cxbstLl# (1 point)
T.Schonber er 1925
1..ia4t! � d3 1 ...@el 2.�e2# 2.ib5# ( 1 point)
Ex. 9-5
Ex. 9-9
A.Lebedev 1 929
1918
1..ie4! 0,e7 1 ...0,d6 2 ..id5#; 1 . ..0,b6 2 ..if5#; 1 .. .0,a7 2 ..if5#. 2.1::1 £6# (1 point)
1.�c70 ig4 (or .is, e2, d l , e8) l.. ..ig6 2.V9f6#; l ...�f7 2.�d6#; l . . .:!'lg6 2.�e8#; l ...:!'lf6 (or :!'lh7, h8) 2.V9(x)f6#. 2.�eS# (1 point) 98
Solutions
�
( �>
-------------------------------------------------------------4K Ex. 9-10 Ex. 9-12 W.S eckmann
N.Kosola ov 1 963
1.Wfg8! 1!if5 l . . .@xh5 2.Wfxg5#; l. ..l"1- 2.liJf6#; l ...g2 2.Wfxg5#. 2.l"1xg5# (1 point)
1.Wfh3 I!ixc6 l. ..@a4 2.Wfb3#; l ...@a6 2.Wfd3#; l . ..@c4 2.Wfb3#. Hl!fd7# (1 point)
Ex. 9-1 1
S.Lo d 1885 1 .Wfa80 �g7 1.. J''1-6 2.Wfg8#; l . ..l"1g8 2.Wfxg8#; l. ..@g7 2.Wfg8#. 2.�hl# (1 point)
Scoring Maximum number of points is 12
points and above····· ··· u � Excellent points and above ···· · ···· · · · . Good � Pass mark points ··· ····················· ·· ······· ·· u .
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Ifyou scored less than 6 points, we recommend thatyou read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 99
i'l iI \.D
C :EJ.:.APTE R.. Contents
The opposition
The opposition and corresponding squares ,/ Corresponding squares and mutual zugzwang ,/ Reserve tempi ,/ Flanking manoeuvre ,/ Distant opposition ,/ Different forms of the opposition ,/
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Example 1
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Diagram 10-2
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h
In Chapter 4 we saw some simple examples of the opposition. Let's now deepen our knowledge. It must be understood that the opposition is only a special case of corresponding squares. Corresponding squares are squares on which both sides find themselves in zugzwang. What we call the opposition is when the kings stand opposite each other with only one square between them. When there are three or five squares between them we speak about the distant opposition. The opposition can be diagonal, horizontal or vertical.
Diagram 10-1 To break down his opponent's defence, White must pass the right to move to his opponent. White wins here, because he has exactly two reserve tempi. What would be wrong here would be the expansive move: l.a4? White would then win the opposition and the black king would have to move to one side, but after that White would not have a reserve tempo left. l ...'it>c7! Not 1 .. .@a7? on account of2.a5! bxa5 3.@xa5 and White gains the opposition again. 2.'it>a6 The white king tries a flanking manoeuvre. It would be useless playing 2.c5 bxc5 3.@xc5 @b7=, as the a-pawn does not win. 2...'it>c6 3.@a7 @c7! Diagram 10-2 Black takes the horizontal opposition. 4.'it>a8 'it>c8!= But not 4 . .. @c6? 5.@b8 @c5 6.@b7+-. Let us return to Diagram 10-1. We need all the reserve tempi here. So the correct move is: 1.a3!
The Opposition
( Once more, the black king must give way, going to one side. 1...�c7 After 1 . . .�a7 2.�c6 �a6 there comes 3.a4 (White uses his second reserve tempo to gain the horizontal opposition. Also good would be 3.�c7 first.) 3 ... �a7 4.�c7 (of course not 4.�b5? �b7!=) 4 ...�a6 5.�b8 (after having gained the opposition on the 7th rank, there now comes the flanking manoeuvre) 5 ...�a5 6.�b7+-. 2.�a6 �c6 3.a4! 3.�a7? is bad, due to 3 ...b5!=. Diagram 10-3 3 ...�c7 4.�a7 White wins the horizontal opposition. 4... �c6 5.�b8 And then comes the flanking. 5 ...�d6 Or 5 ... �c5 6.�b7+-. 6.�b7 �c5 7.�c7 �xc4 8.�xb6+-
•
.
..
Diagram 10-4 - -: - bl� ;t � -·--·----Ca a c
.
1921
>-'
0
8 7 6 5 4 3
2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8 7
1.�e2! White will win the struggle for the key e5-square, after first gaining the distant opposition. 1...�e7 If l . ..�d7, then 2.�d3 �c6 3.�e4+-. After 1 ...�d8!? there comes 2.�f3! (The distant opposition is crucial only on the e-file. White can now use a flanking manoeuvre to shorten the distant opposition. He must not play 2.�e3?, due to 2 ... �e7! with the distant opposition, when 3 .�e4 �e6 4.�f4 @f6= leads to a draw. The same happens after 2.@d3? @d7!= with the distant opposition.) 2 ... @e7 3.@e3! (again White gains the distant opposition, but not 3.@f4? @f6=) 3 ... @e6 (3 ...@d6 4.@d4+- opposition) 4.@e4+- with the opposition. Play continues as in the main line. 2.�e3 �e6 3.�e4 Opposition. Black now has two possibilities. 101
6 5 4 3
2
Example 2
+-
o
Endgame 2
8 7 6 5 4 3
2 1 a
b
c
d
e
g
f
h
Diagram 10-5 (Variation A) 3... @f6 4.@f4! 4.@d5? would be premature, in view of 4... l!if5 5.l!ic5 I!ig4 6.l!ixb5 l!ixh4 7.l!ic5 1!ig4 8.b5 h4 9.b6 h3 1 0.b7 h2 I l .b8� h l �=. 4...@g6 Or 4... l!ie6 5.l!ig5 I!id5 6.l!ixh5 1!ic4 7.l!ig5 l!ixb4 8.h5 1!ic4 9.h6 b4 l O.h7 b3 I l .h8�+-. 5.l!ie5 The key square. 5 ...@g7 6.@5+Another good move is 6.�d5 �f6 7.l!ic5+-. 6... @h6 7.1!if60 @h7 S.@g5+Diagram 10-5 (Variation B) 3 ...@d6 4.@d4! @c6 4. . .l!ie6 5.�c5+5.l!ie5+The key square. 5 ... @b6 6.l!id5 @b7 7.@c5 @a6 S.@c60 l!ia7 9.l!ixb5 I!ib7 10.@c5 @c7 1 1 .@d5! I!ib6 12.@e5 @b5 13.1!i5 @xb4 14.@g5 @c5 15.l!ixb5 @d6 16.@g6 l!ie7 17.@g7!+Diagram 10-6 H.Neustadtl
8
Chess magaz ine 1 890
7 6 5 4 3
2 1 a
b
c
d
e
Example 3
g
f =
h
Only the distant, horizontal opposition can save White! 1.l!ihl !! l .l!ifl ? loses to l . ..l!id2 2.1!if2 l!id3 (another good move is 2 ... g4-+) 3.l!igl l!ie3 4.�g2 �e20-+ and Black gains the opposition. 1 .1!ig3? fails to l . ..l!ie l ! 2.l!ig2 l!ie2 3.�g3 l!ifl 4.l!ig4 1!if2-+. l ...@el If l...g4, then 2.l!ig2! I!id2 3.fxg4 e4 4.g5 e3 5.g6 e2 6.g7 e1� 7.g8�=. After l...l!id2 comes 2.l!ih2!=. 2.@gl! Horizontal opposition. 2...@e2 3.l!ig2! @e3 4.l!ig3! 1!id2 Or 4 ...l!id4 5.l!ig4!=. 5.@h2! @d3 6.@h3!=
1 02
The Opposition
( The following theoretically important endgame illustrates all forms of the opposition.
>--
0
Diagram 10-7
l::,.
Diagram 10-7
The black king must remain inside the square of the a-pawn. But it also has another task: it must defend the key squares c4, d4 and e4. Black has a simple defensive method: as long as the white king is on the 1 st or 2nd rank, the black king remains on d6 or e6. Only if the white king moves to the third rank does Black have to occupy a corresponding square: 1 .1i>h3 1i>d5! or 1 .1i>g3 We5!. 1...WdS! The corresponding squares are d3 (£3, h3) - dS and e3 (g3) - eS . 2.Wg3 WeS! Diagonal opposition. 3.Wh3 WdS! 4.Wh4 Wd4! Horizontal, distant opposition. S.hS d6! 7.h7 d8! 9.g7 e7! Horizontal opposition. 10.g6 e6! 1 1 .gS eS! 12.Wg4 We4! 13.g3 eS! 14.dS! IS.e3 eS! Opposition. Not 1 5 ... c5?? 16.li>e4+- and White occupies the key square. 16.d3 f1! See also Ex. 4-2. Not 4.�g2? �g4-+ nor 4.�f2? �f4-+. 4...'tt>f4 5.c;!;>f2= Opposition.
.Moravec 1952 1 .'tt> c2! (l point) l .f6? gxf6 2.'tt>c2 would be wrong. in view of 2 ... 'tt> e6 3.'tt> d3 'tt>f5-+ and the black king will occupy g4. the key square for the f6-pawn (see Example 1 in Chapter 4). 1 ...'tt> d6! l . ..'tt> e7 2.'tt> d3 'tt> f6 3.'tt>e4= is simple. 2.f6! (1 point) 2.�d3? loses after 2 ...�e5 3.'tt> e3 (if 3.f6. then 3 ...�xf6!+-) 3 ... �xf5 4.'tt>f3 'tt>g5 5.�g3 g6-+ (see Example 3 in Chapter 4). 2 ...gxf6 3.'tt> d2! (l point) The distant opposition. 3.�d3? �d5 4.�e3 'tt>e 5 5.�f3 �f5 6.'tt>e3 �g4-+ would be bad. 3...�e6 4.�e2! We also saw this idea in Ex. 4-9. 4...'tt> f5 5.'tt> /3= Opposition. Ex. 10-2
H.Mattison 1918 1.g6! (l point) If 1 .'tt> g2? 'tt>g4 2.�f2 (or 2.g6 fxg6 3.f5 gxf5-+ and Black holds the opposition). then 2 ... �xf4 3.�g2 �xg5 and Black wins. because he has a reserve tempo: 4.�g3 �f5 5.M3 f6-+. 1 ...fx:g6 2.f5! (l point) After 2.�g1 ? comes 2 ...�g4 3.f5 �xf5! 4.�f2 �f4-+. Also bad is 2.�g2? �g4 3.�fl (3.f5 gxf5!-+) 3...�xf4 4.�f2 g5-+. 2...gxf5 3.'tt>g l! (1 point)
Ex. 10-3
I. Dritina 1907 1 .'tt>/3! (l point) White must first gain the distant opposition on the f-file. If 1 .�f4? then l.. .�f6 and White gets no further. e.g. 2.�e4 �e7! 3.'tt>d4 (or 3.�f5 �f7=) 3.. .�d7! 4.�c3 'tt>c7! 5.�b4 �b6!=. 1 . ..'tt>e7 2.'tt>g4! (l point) White shortens the distance between the two kings with this typical flanking manoeuvre (see also Example 2 of this chapter). 2 ... 'tt> f6 Or 2 ... �f8 3.M4! �e7 4.�g5!+-. If 2 ...�f7. then 3 .�f5+- wins. 3.'tt>f4! 'tt>e7 Or 3...�g6 4.'tt> e4 �f6 5.'tt> d4 �e7 6.�c3 �d7 7.'tt> b4 'tt> c7 8.�a5! �b7 9.�b5+-. (l point) 4.'tt> g5! Flanking. 4...'tt> 1:7 6.'tt> f5! Opposition. 5 ...'tt> e7 6.'tt>g6 Flanking. 6 ... 'tt> e8 7.'tt>f6 'tt> d7 8.'tt>1:7 'tt>d8 9.'tt> e6 'tt> c7 10.'tt> e7+-
1...'tt>h6!
Ex. 10-4
(1 point) The horizontal. distant opposition. as in Example 3. The alternatives are bad:
1 06
Solutions
We know this idea from Example 1 . Playing 1 .1!If6? would be bad, in view of l . ..l!Id6 2.1!If7 l!1d7 =. L.. exd5 2.l!Ixd5 Opposition. 2...l!Ie7 3.i>e5 i>f7 4.i>f5!+-
a) l ...l!Im 2.l!Id7 I!Ig6 3.l!Ie6 I!Ig7 4.l!Ie7 I!Ig6 5.Ms l!lh6 6.1!If7+b) l . ..l!Ig6? 2.l!Ie6 1!1g7 3.l!Ie7+c) 1 .. .l!Ih7? 2.l!Id7! I!Ih6 (2 ... l!IgS 3.l!Ie6 I!Ig7 4.l!Ie7+-) 3.l!IeS!+- I!Ig7 4.l!Ie7 I!Ig6 5.l!IfS+2.l!Ie7 I!1g7! 3.l!Ie8 I!1g8! 4.l!Id7 i>h7!=
Ll!ld5!
Ex. 10-5
1...i>h7!
White takes the opposition. 1 .l!Ie5? would be bad, due co 1 ...l!Ie7=. 1...l!Ie7 2.l!Ie5! But not 2.l!Ic6?, allowing 2 ... l!Ie6!= with the horiwntal opposition. 2... i>f7 3.i>d6 Flanking. 3 . .l!IfS 4.i>e6 I!1g7 5.l!Ie7 i>g8 6.i>f6 i>h7 7.i>f70+-
Ex. 10-9
�
·�F.y�tes :"·S.Tartakow�r
.
Homburg 1 927
Li>a3!
Ex. 10-6
( 1 point) The black king has no corresponding square, since his pawn is on g6. Bue not 1 .I!Id6?, on account of 1 . ..l!If6 2.l!Id7 1!1f7= with the horizontal opposition. 1...1!If6 Or l . ..1!If7 2.l!Id7+-. 2.i>d6! i>f7 3.l!Id7! i>f6 After 3 ... l!IfS there follows the flanking move 4.l!Ie6+-. 4.l!Ie8! Flanking, after gaining the opposition on the 7th rank. 4...l!;>g7 5.l!Ie7 i>g8 6.i>f6 i>h7 7.i>f7 i>h6 8.i>g80 ( 1 point) 8...g5 9.fxg5t i>g6 10.l!IfS+-
Ld5!
Ex. 10-8
( 1 point) l ...l!Ih5? loses, because of 2.l!Ig7 g5 3.l!If6! gxf4 4.gxf4 1!1g4 5.l!;>e50+-. 2.1!If7 I!Ih6 3.i>g8 g5! 4.i>f7 gxf4 5.gxf4 I!Ih7! 6.i>f6 i>g8! 7.i>xf5 1!1f7!= ( 1 point)
(1 point)
Ll!lc6!
(
Ex. 10-7
(1 point)
(1 point) 1 .1!Ib1 ? would be bad, due co l ...l!Ixb4 2.l!Ib2 l!Ia4 3.l!Ib l l!Ia3 4.l!Ia1 b2t 5.l!Ib1 b4-+. 1...b2 Or 1 ...1!Ic3 stalemate. 2.i>a2! ( 1 point) But not 2.l!Ixb2? on account of 2 ...l!Ixb4 and Black gains the opposition. 2... bl.it 3.l!Ixbl l!1xb4 4.l!Ib2= Opposition (see Example 2 in Chapter 4). 1/2-% Ex. 10-10
.Ban 1949
(1 point) You must understand that the opposition is noc a universal weapon, but only a special case of a pair of corresponding squares. Here, for 1 07
.-.
o
o
-<
Solutions
)
2 ...d3 3.'it> fl!!
example, taking the distant opposition makes no sense, since the black king simply goes in front of the d-pawn, with the consequences which we know from Chapter 4 (see Examples 1 and 2): 1 .'it>f4? 'it>e8 2.'it>e5 'it>d7=. 1...'it>f7 2.'it> e5! 'it> m Or 2 ...'it>e8 (aiming to hold the draw by moving to d7) 3.'it>e6 'it>d8 4.d7 +-. 3.'it>f6! 'it>e8 4.s!? e6 'it>d8 5.d7+(1 point)
.
..
Ex. 1 0- 1 1
H.Cohn
(1 point) 3.Eixg4t? again loses to 3 ... 'it>xg4 4.'it>f2 'it>f4 5.'it>fl M3! 6.'it>e1 'it>e3-+. 3 ...1MJ'xg3 stalemate. If 3 ... d2, then 4.Eixg4t 'it>xg4 5.'it>e2= while after 3 ... 'it>f4 there comes 4.Eixg4t 'it>xg4 5.'it>e1 !=.
.
.
Ex. 10-12
C.Salvioli 1 887
1 927
U�g3!! (2 points) The only chance to save the game, since the ending of rook against queen is lost. 1 ...d4 1 . ..\Wxg3 leads to stalemate. If l . ..'it>f4, then after 2.l"!xg4t 'it>xg4 3.'it>g2 White keeps the opposition: 3 ... 'it>f4 4.'it>f2 'it>e4 5.'it>e2 'it>d4 6.'it>d2= (see Example 1 in Chapter 4). 2.s!?g2! ( 1 point) 2.Eixg4t? would be wrong, on account of 2 ... 'it>xg4 3.'it>g2 d3 4.'it>f2 M4 5.'it>fl 'it>f3! 6.'it>e1 'it>e3 7.'it>d 1 d2-+ (see Ex. 1 0- 1 0).
(1 point) But not l ...a5? 2.b5 a4 3.b6t 'it>a6 4.b7 a3 5.b8\W a2 6.\Wb6#. 2.'it> b6 a5! Of course, not 2 ... 'it>b8? 3.'it>xa6+- and White occupies the key square for the b4-pawn. 3.s!?xa5 3. bxa5 'it>b8= 3.b5 'it>b8! 4.'it>xa5 'it>b7= 3 . 'it>a7! Opposition. 4.'it>b5 'it> b7 (1 point)
108
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=
G
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--------�(II j; ...... Scoring t-)
:;;
o
Maximum number of points is 26
22 points and above u • •• • • • • • Excellent · ··· ··· . Good 1 8 points and above 1 2 points·· ·········· · u •• • • • • • ••• u • Pass mark
Ifyou scored less than 12 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
1 09
C 1:--I.A PTER. Contents
11 The pin
The pin ./ The absolute pin ./ Winning material by means of a pin ./ Attacking the pinned piece with a pawn ./ Exchanging on the pinning square ./ Exploiting the pin by zugzwang ./ Pinning combinations ./ The pin as a positional device ./
What is a pin? 'One of the most frequent and most dangerous forms of attack is the pin. Any piece which moves along a straight line (queen, rook or bishop) attacks another piece, which cannot escape from the attack because by doing so it would expose another important piece - rook, queen or even king - which lies behind it along the line of the attack. 50 the pinned piece must remain where it is and is then exposed to further attacks by pieces and above all by pawns. ' 5.Tarrasch The absolute pin An absolute pin is particularly strong and dangerous, since the piece behind the pinned piece is the king. 'The protection offered by a piece which is pinned is purely imaginary! Ie is only pretending to protect, in reality it is crippled and immobile.' A.Nimzowitsch
8 7 6 5
Diagram l l-I
4 3
Hof 1 928
2 1 a
b
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f
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6
Diagram 1 1 -2 8 7 6
Black has a combination, which is based on a pin. l..J:lhlt! 2.'it>g3 If 2.@xh l , then 2... 'iWxh3t-+ exploits the absolute pin on the g2-pawn along the diagonal. 2 ...'iWh4t! Also good enough is 2... Elxh3t 3.gxh3 'iWh4t 4.@h2 'iWxf2#. 3.l'!xh4t gxh4# Diagram 1 1-2
5 Mar del Plata 1960
4 3 2 1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White finds a little combination, which exploits the various tactical nuances in the position. 1.£4! Elxe4 2.£5! .hf5 If 2 ...�h5, then 3.Elxe4 Elxe4 4.ltJf6t! 'iWxf6 5.'iWb8t+-.
The Pin
Neither is 2 ... l"Ixel 3.l"Ixel l"Ixel t 4.Wxel �xf5 any good, on account of 5.ltle7t+-. 3.gxe4 he4 4.ltl f6t The g7-pawn is now pinned. 4...Wh8 5. ltlxe8 Wxe8 6JPlc7 bxc4 7.gdl! Black resigned. The threat is 8.l"Id8, and after 7...�d3 there follows simply 8.bxc4 with an easy win. Winning material by means of a pin The pin is often an important part of tactical operations. A pin can frequently lead to gaining an advantage in material. Diagram 1 1-3 Variation from the game
8 7
Amsterdam 1 994
l.gbl! This pins the knight. The threat is 2.�d4. 1...gb8 Black wants to unpin with 2 ...ltld7!, but White employs a typical idea to prevent that. 2.�e5! gb7 3.�d4+White wins a piece.
6 5 4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
L,.
Diagram 1 1-4
Diagram 1 1-4
h
8 Munich 1 994
7
During a tactical exchange of pieces, White uses the pin to win the game. 1.�xe4! Nothing is achieved by l .l"Ixb3 l"Ixc6. And if l .ltle5t, then 1 ...*f6. 1...�a4 Or 1...fxe4 2.ltle5t M6 3.ltlg4t *f5 4.l"Ixb3 l"Icl t 5.*h2 h5 6.l"Ib5t+-. 2.�a gxc6 The main variation would go 2 ... �xc6 3.l"Ic2+- and White wins the pinned piece. 3.gb7t *f6 4.hc6+III
6 5 4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
...-<
Tactics 5
...-<
::
t)
< !
Attacking the pinned piece with a pawn
�
Diagram 1 1-5
8 7
A.Yusu
o-;:-�
6
C.n Pic.fort 198 1
5
1.�xfS! Much more energetic than l .f4 �g6 2.�d3;!;. 1...�xfS 2.Wlc2! But not 2.�d3 Wid7 3.g4??, in view of 3 ... lihBt 4.@g2 �xd2 5.�xfSt Wixf5 6.gxfS �xfl -+. 2 ...Wlg5 3.g4! A typical pawn attack on the pinned piece. 3 ... iLlg6 4.WlxfS WlxfS 5.gxf5 �f4 6.�c4 �xb2 7.�ae1+-
4 3
2 1 a
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h
Diagram 1 1-6 8
USSR 1956
7 6 5 4 3
2 1 a
b
c
d
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g
h
White has various ways to turn his decisive positional advantage into a material one. The game went: 1.c5!+A pretty move, which simultaneously exploits the pins on both the b- and d-pawns. Black loses a pawn and the game. White could also exploit the pin on the b-pawn by l .a5! Eldb7 2.a6 Ela7 3.Elxd6+-. The pin on the d-pawn even gives White a third way to win a pawn, by I .Elxe5! dxe5 2.Elxd7. 1-0
Exchanging on the pinning square Diagram 1 1-7
8 7 6 5 4 3
2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
U�xf6! With this move, White links twO typical motifs: he gets an absolute pin and wins a tempo after general exchanges. l .�xf6t Elxf6 2.Elxf6 @xf6 3.b4 @e5 4.b5 @d6 leads only to a draw. 1...�xf6 2M cj;f7 2. . .a6 3.b5 axb5 4.a6+3..hf6 cj;xf6 4.b5 cj;e6 5.b6 axb6 6.a6! White wins. 1 12
The Pin
(j �
( Exploiting the pin by zugzwang
T
Diagram 1 1-8
Diagram 1 1-8 --v.ku reichik - S.Dolmatov
8
USSR Ch. Vilnius 1 980
7
After the obvious moves 1. ..�rot 2.ge4 ge6! 3.gae1 Black plays 3.. g6! White can no longer unpin with f4-f5 and Wf4. 4.�c3 �f7 5.h4 gxe4 6.gxe4 h5 7.a4 a5 8.b3 �d5-+ White is in zugzwang. After 9.�e5 there comes 9 ... d2. while after 9.�d2 the win is achieved by 9 ... �f6 then �f5. 0-1
.
A few more examples with pinning combinations. which are sometimes rather hard to see.
Diagram 1 1-9
6 5 4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
T
Diagram 1 1-9 8 7 6
----�----S.T �
5 4
The following combination occurs frequently. 1...lZlxf4! 2.gxf4 gg6-+ Black wins the queen.
3 2 1 a
Diagram 1 1-10
b
c
d
e
f
g
L
Diagram 1 1-10
K.P e1 - P.Osto·ic Bagneux 1978
8
l.lZlxe4! The knight on f6 is pinned. because it has to block access to the crucial square g7. If l .g4. then Black defends by l . . .WfB!. 1... lZl bd7 Black must accept [he loss of [he e4-pawn. After 1 . ..Wxe4 comes 2.�f3+-, and when the queen retreats. White wins the rook on as. If 1 .. .liJxe4??, then, of course, 2.Wxg7#. 2.gdl gaG 3.lZlg3 �b7 4.0-0+-
7
1 13
h
6 5 4 3
2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
:> � >1 il1 i'l
......
Tactics 5
I V
If the pinned piece is not covering the king, but a stronger piece, it can, however, move away. Moves like that, which uncover a stronger piece, are very easy to overlook. See Chapter 7 The discovered attack. -
h.
The pin is not only a tactical motif, but is also an important positional device
8
Diagram 1 1- 1 1
7 6 5 4 3
2 1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Here, the pin on the f6-knight brings White a great advantage. It can lead to the destruction of the castled position. l.tLld5 tLld4? If l ...i>h8 or l ...�e8, then 2.f4! while after l ...h6 there comes 2.tLlxf6t gxf6 3.�xh6+-. 2.tLlxf6t gxf6 3.ih6+Because of the threat of �g4t, Black has to surrender the exchange.
h.
Diagram 1 1-12
Diagram 1 1-12
8 7
Although White has one pawn less, the pin on the knight signifies a clear advantage to White. Black cannot bring his pieces on the queens ide into play. U�c8t i>f7 2.g4 i>e6 3.E:h8 h6 4.tLlh4+-
6 5 4
The pin can often bring about a tactical or a positional advantage. For that reason, you must fight against any pin with due urgency, or even prevent one occurring.
3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Test your understanding with the following twelve exercises about the pin.
1 14
..
:l
""
Exercises > Ex. 1 l-1 �
'Y
*
>Ex. 1 l-4 �
8
8
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7
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>Ex. 1 l-5 � 8
8
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1 15
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**
d
>Ex. 1 l-6� 8
/:::,.
**
e
/:::,.
**
d
e
f
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h
(
;
-i M )l
.......
,...,.....;..; Exercises
) > Ex. 1 1-7<
l::,.
**
8
8
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6
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5
4
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Solutions Variation from the game Leningrad
< Ex. 1 1-6
Ex. 1 1-1
A.Troitz 1 930
1941
1...lOe5-+
(2 points) A very pretty cross-pinning motif.
(I point) Black utilizes the pin on the d4-pawn and wins the exchange.
Ex. 1 1 -7
�.
Ex. 1 1-2
1930
l .id!= ( I point) Black cannot unpin the rook on d4. After 1 ..J"ld8 the white bishop will simply remain on the a1-c3 diagonal. All that Black can do is surrender the rook, but then the ending of rook against bishop is objectively drawn.
Ex. 1 1-3
l.�h2! (2 points) But not 1 .�f4?, on account of 1 ... d2 2.ixd2 stalemate. White now wins the g6-rook, due to zugzwang. 1...d2 2.hd20 �h4 3.hg6+-
Ex. 1 1-8 USSR Ch, Moscow
Variation from the game
1957
C.Van den Ber - E.Eliskases Hoogovens Beverwijk 1959
1...13d8!-+ ( I point) Exploiting the pin on the diagonal. White resigned, in view of2.Wfxf5 l"lxd1#.
l .13xf6! �xf6 2.d6t!+(2 points) Deflection is used to exploit the pin.
Ex. 1 1-4 L.Kubbei 1 92 1
Ex. 1 1-9
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Tbilisi
White has a stalemate defence: l .13d3!=
l ...13f8! (2 points)
1...�xd3 stalemate. Ex. 1 1-5
�-:Botvinnik USSR Ch, Leningrad
0-1
1937
1939
(2 points)
(I point) This pins the white queen on the f-file. 2.13d8D White defends with a counter-pin on the rook on the 8th rank. 2...�h4t!-+ ( I point) This way Black exploits the absolute pin, next comes 3 ... Wfxf6. 0-1
1 17
Solutions Ex. 1 1-10 programme - David Uhlmann - found another solution here: 1 ...a5! (also 2 points) 2.a3 (or 2.c3 a4 3.�dl iLlxa2 4J:'lal i.xf4-+ if 2.iLld3, then 2. . . a4-+) 2 ...a4 3.�c3 iLla2-+ winning the exchange. 2.l'l:xc2 Or 2.�xc2 �xc2 3.E:xc2 .ixf4-+. 2.. flxf4 The bishop on e3 is pinned, because of the possibility of a back rank mate! 3.g3 flf5-+
Vrbas 1 980
1 ..id2! (2 points) White pins the knight. Black cannot avoid losing material. 1...flb6 If l ...�a3, then Hk3 �xa2 3 ..ic4 �b2 (or 3...�a5 4J'l:b3+-) 4J::lb3+-. 2.l'l:b2+Black resigned in view of 2... a5 3.a3 (attacking the pinned piece with a pawn) 3 ....ixd4 4.l'l:b l +-.
.
Ex. 1 1-12 A.Kotov - R. Kholmov Moscow 1 97 1
Ex. 1 1 - 1 1 . '� all .Ca bl ca � A.A1 ekh ine
l.flb5!! (2 points) But not 1 ..ixc5 E:xc5 2.�d4, due to 2 ... E:c7 and Black successfully unpins. 1..Jhc2 If 1 ...E:xb5, then 2.E:xc8t i>f7 3 ..ixa7 +-. 2 .ixa7 E:xa2 3..ic5 h6 4.h4 1-0
World Ch, Buenos Aires (I) 1927
1...tLlxc2! (2 points) Black wins a pawn by a combination which exploits the weakness of the back rank. A participant in our distance learning
•
Scoring Maximum number of points is 21
1 9 points and above
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16 points and above 11 poi n ts
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�Excellent
�Goo d � Pass mark
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Ifyou scored less than 1 1 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 1 18
C ::E-:l.A.P T E R
12 The double attack
Contents The double attack The double attack with various pieces ../ The double attack in combinations ../ Preparing a double attack V ../
An attack on two or more pieces with a single move is called a double attack. The most common form of double attack is the fork, but there is also the skewer, where the two attacked pieces lie on the same line, and the second piece is attacked 'through' the first one. A double attack is a very important and effective tactic. Ie often leads to an immediate win of material, because the opponent is not able to fend off several threats simultaneously.
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Ie is also very easy to overlook a double attack. Every chess piece (though it is most often the queen or the knight) can carry out a double attack.
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Diagram 12-1
T.Petrosian - V.Sima i';--
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Moscow 1 956
5 4
1.W!a8t
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The start of a combination with three double attacks. 1...@g7 1 ..c1! After this move, the bishop cannot find a safe square on the diagonal and becomes the victim of a double attack. But not l .d7? I!Ic7 2.l!Icl , due to 2 ...i.a2! 3.l!Ib2 hb3=. 1.. .td3 a) L..i.a2 2.';!;(b2+b) l...i.e4 2.d7 I!Ic7 3.ttle6t I!Ixd74.ttlc5t+c) l ...i.g6 2.d7 I!Ic7 3.ttle6t I!Ixd7 4.ltJffit+d) l ...i.h7 2.d7 I!Ic7 3.ttle6t I!Ixd7 4.ttlfBt+2.d7 �c7 3.ttle6t �xd7 4.ttlcSt+.
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1 22
The Double Attack
< Double attacks are dangerous, but they do not always win the game!
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Diagram 12-9
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Diagram 12-9 8
Leningrad simultaneous 1975
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l.'lWc2? A double attack on the bishop on c7 and the pawn on h7, but Black saves himself with a tactical trick. The simple 1.�d3= was better. 1. .. g6! And White cannot take the bishop, on account of 2:�xc7 �c8! 3:�xa7 �c1 t-+. In the test which follows, you should first of all look for 'potential victims' for your attack, such as unprotected pieces of your opponent. Then you will also find the double attack!
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> Ex. 12-3f3 If2.mxh3, then 2 ... Ii:ixf2t-+. 2 1Mff5t 3.i>e3 Ii:ixc3 4.bxc3 lMfe6t-+ •..
Ex. 12-4
Ex. 12-8
Variation from the game Paris 1900 Bundesliga 1 992
I .lMfc5+-
1.1Mfc1!+(t point) Ex. 12-5 Helsinki 1983
I...d3! 2.Ld3 e4 3.ie2 3.ixf6 exd3-+ 4. . .exf3 5.gxf3 lMfe5 6.f4 lMfa5t-+
(2 points) A double attack, threatening both the bishop on f5 and mate on fB. For the moves l .lMfb4 or 1 .\Wa3 (attacking a pawn rather than the bishop) you get I point. It is better to attack the stronger pieces. 1-0 Ex. 12-9
(t point)
A1bena 1 989
White must do something about the threat of 1 ...1"lcc l . Next came: 1 26
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Solutions
-------4�. � Ex. 12-1 1
l.�al!! (2 points) Black is pinned on the a2-g8 diagonal. For 1 .'Wd2, intending 2.'Wd8t, you get 1 point. l..Jlxal Or 1 ...!1acl 2.'Wxc4t+-. 2.ixc4t 1-0
Another typical combination. 1.Lr6! Lr6 2.�e4+(2 points) With a double attack on h7 and a8. If you chose 2.ixh7t, you get 1 point. It is not bad, but 2.'We4 wins more material. Ex. 12-12
Ex. 12-10
World Ch, Moscow ( I O) 1966
Philadelphia 1 986
1 .�h8t!
l .ixe6t!
(1 point) Black resigned, on account of 1 ... i>xh8 2.ltJxf7t i>g7 3.ltJxg5+-. 1-0
(2 points) This is a typical combination. We already saw the same idea in Ex. 1 2-3. Black resigned, in view of 1 . . .ixe6 2.'Wf8t i>xf8 3.ltJxe6t i>e7 4.ltJxc7 \!1d6 5.ltJe8t \!Ie7 6.ltJxg7+-. 1-0
Scoring ..
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Maximum number of points is 17
points and above-·· · · · .. ..· >- Excellent d poi nts and above-.. · · · · ···· .. ··..· ..· >- Goo points ..
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Pass mark
Ifyou scored less than 10 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 1 27
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13 Contents
Realizing a material advantage
../ Attacking
play ro simplify the position ../ Exchanging correctly ../ The rransition ro a won pawn ending ../ Returning part of the material advantage ../ The correct attitude ../ Allow no counterplay! ../ Playing
The side which has an advantage in material can employ one of [wo basically different strategies ro exploit the advantage. Whenever we have more pieces than our opponent, the best strategy is usually to play for an attack. Because we have more pieces, our opponent is forced ro defend against superior forces. Thus we can often simply attack one point with more pieces than he has available for the defence.
Diagram 13-1
Diagram 13-1 A.Yus���� USSR Ch, Minsk 1 979 1.�c2 White has a very small advantage in material. In the ending the rook and pawn could compensate for the [wo white minor pieces, but in the middlegame the latter are superior to the rook and pawn. White prepares a direct attack. 1. .l::i e6 2.iYd3 g6 2...�d8? 3./tjf6t+3.�b3 The rook is too valuable and must retreat. 3...:ge7 4.iYd6+The threats include tLlf6t and also v;rxg6t. Black can do nothing against the combined arrack of the white pieces. 4... :gb4 Or 4 ... v;rel t (4...�bb7 5.v;rxg6t+-) 5.@h2 v;rxe4 6.v;rxe7 v;rf4t 7.@gl v;re3t 8.@hl !+- and White escapes the checks. •
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Black resigned, in view of 5 ... @g7 6.v;rxe7 v;rd4t 7.@hl +-. The second method consists of aiming for a simplification of the position. You try to swap off pieces and aim for the endgame. In the endgame
Realizing a Material Advantage
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< you can convert your advantage in material withour having to worry too much abour counterplay. In faCt, with fewer pieces on the board, the effectiveness of an extra piece is all the greater.
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However, It IS Important to retain at least some pawns, because many endgames with an extra piece, but without pawns, cannot be won. Thus an important rule is: The side which has the advantage in material should try to exchange pieces, but avoid exchanging pawns. 1 29
., m ;0
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1.\Wb5! With two extra pawns, White aims for simplification. Although he has to return one pawn, he consolidates his advantage. White cannot unpin his bishop by l .Wld4?, on account of l .. .Wla5!+. While if l .ltlb5?!, then l ...ic6 2.ltlfd4 �xa7°o. l ...\Wxb5 2.ltlxb5 �xe4 3.�xe4 be4 4.ltld2 .id3 5.ltlxd6 gxa7 5 ... cxd6± would be no better, as White would have two connected passed pawns. 6.ltl6e4 ltlf8 7.ltlc5 �f5 S.ltlf3 ltle6 9.�c1 'it>f8 10.tLlxe6t beG Diagram 13-3 1 1.ltld4 'White's plan consists of preventing the advance of the c-pawn (because otherwise the white b-pawn could become weak) and controlling the whole board as far as the 5th rank. That is achieved by the advance of the king to e3, by placing the rook on c3 and the knight on d4, as well as advancing the pawns to b4 and f4. Once such a position has been reached, White can set in motion his pawns on the queenside.' - J .Capablanca 1 1 . �b7 12.b4 .id7 13.f4 'it>e7 14.'it>n �a7 15.gc3 'it>d6 16.�d3 'it>e7 17.'it>e3± You will find the end of the game in the test positions.
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Diagram 13-2 Moscow 1936
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Positional Play 2
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One useful method is the transition to a won pawn ending.
Diagram 13-4 S
Bundesliga 200 I
7
I .gS! White is preparing an exchanging combination which leads to a simple pawn ending. I ..JUS 2JM7t! l3xf7 3.ixf7 ..txf7 4 ..tdS+ We already know this pawn ending. 1-0
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Sometimes, in order to simplifY our task and eliminate any counterplay, we can return part of our material advantage.
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Diagram 13-S
Diagram 13-S
S 7
Moscow 1 992
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I.l3xel!? White could also have won the game with the strong move 1 . ..tg3, but he did not want to take any risks in time trouble and preferred a simpler way. I...l3xel 2.hf5 l3xe8 3 .!Llf6t ..tg7 After 3 ... ..thS 4.lLlxeS gxf5 5.lLlxd6, White would win the endgame very easily, e.g. 5 ...ifS 6.c5 (or 6.lLlxf5 ..th7 7. ..tg3 ..tg6 S . ..tf4+-) and now: a) 6 ... ..th7 7.lLlb7 ig7 S.c6 ie5 9.lLlc5 a5 1 0.'Lla6+b) 6 .....tgS 7.lLlb7 (or 7. ..tf3+-) 7....ig7 S.c6 .ie5 9.'Llc5+c) 6 .....tg7 7.'LleSt+4..!Llxe8t ..tfB S.id7 Black resigned.
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As soon as they have acquired an advantage in material,
some players make a great mistake. They think they have already won the game, their concentration lapses and they simply wait for their opponent to resign. Such behaviour is very often punished: you overlook your opponent's threats and sometimes you even lose a game which you had already almost won. 1 30
Realizing a Marerial Advantage
()
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< In such siruarions we musr play with even grearer care and not allow any counterplay.
Diagram 13-6
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Diagram 13-6
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l..J!fd8! The exchange of rooks will limit his opponent's counter-chances. 2J;adl :!';xdl 'Whire has fewer chances with one rook rhan wirh cwo.' - E.Mednis 3Jhdl �f8 The king heads for rhe centre co prorecr the squares on rhe d-file. 4.a �e7 5.�fl Diagram 13-7 5...h5! 'Whire is srrong on rhe queenside, Black on rhe kingside. So Black arracks on rhe kingside, where he has more forces.' - E.Mednis 6.�e3 g5 7.:!,;h2 :!,;d8! Black methodically improves his position, without haste. 8.:!';hl g4! 9.fxg4 lLlxg4t 10.�e2 lLlf6 Targering Whire's weakness on e4. 1 1.�e3 :gd4 12.:!';fl lLlg4t 13.�e2 Diagram 13-8 13... �f8! Black has found a logical plan. He now rransfers his king co rhe kingside by �g7 -g6, co supporr rhe play by his pawns. In the endgame, you should attempt to coordinate the pieces, to create a passed pawn, support it and escort it to the queening square. 14.:ga �g7 15.:!';d3
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Positional Play 2
) Diagram 13-9 1 5 'i!if6! White is trying to get some counterplay on the queenside. So Black changes the route for his king: the king goes to f6, in order to seize the central e5-square after the exchange of rooks. Less good is 1 5 ...l!ig6 1 6.:i:'lxd4 exd4 17.tLlb5 e5 1 8.tLlxa7�. 16.13xd4 exd4 17.tLlb5 'i!ie5 18.tLlxa7 'i!ixe4 19.tLlc8 If 1 9.tLlb5, then 1 9...d3t 20.l!id2 tLle5-+, intending . . .'i!if3. 19 d3t Losing the game is always possible, for example: 1 9 ... e5?? 20.tLld6# 20. 'i!id2 'i!id4 21.c5 If 2 1.tLlxb6 tLlf6 22.tLla4, then either 22... tLle4t 23.'i!idl tLlxg3-+ or 23 ...l!ie3 24.tLlb2 tLlc3t-+. Nor would 2 1.tLld6 tLle5-+ save White. 21...bxc5 22.tLld6 tLle5 White resigned. His fate is sealed in lines such as: 23.tLlb5t 'i!ie4 24.tLlc3t I!iS 25.a4 I!ixg3 26.a5 tLlc6 27.a6 h4 28.tLle4t 'i!ig2 29.'i!ixd3 tLlb4t-+ 23.a4 c4 24.tLlb5t I!ic5 25.bxc4 I!ixc4 26.tLld6t I!ib4-+ .. •
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Solutions
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Ex. 13-1
Ex. 13-3
Moscow 1 936
Linares 1 992
(2 points) 'The pawns on the queenside are ready to advance. There is also the threat of 2.li:le4t.' - M.Dvoretsky Only 1 point for 1 .g4 or 1 .h4. It is more logical to act on the queens ide, since White has an extra pawn there. 1. ..5 2.b5 13a8 If 2 ...1ha3, then 3.li:le4t fxe4 4J::!xa3 �xb5 5.13g3 c5t 6.@xe4 ic6t 7.@d3+-. 3.'�c4! The immediate 3.a4 is not so good, on account of 3 ... ie6! and the white king cannot support a further advance of the pawns on the queenside. 3...ie6t 4.@b4 c5t 5.bxc6 ig8 6.�b5t @xc6± See Ex. 1 3-6.
(2 points) Forcing the correct exchange. White now wins easily: a) 1 .. .13xe5 2.@xe5 g5 (2 ... @h7 3.@f5 @gB 4.@g6 @fB 5.li:lf5+-) 3.li:lf3 @g7 4.@f5 @f7 5.g4 @g7 6.li:ld4 (or 6.li:lxg5+-) 6 ... @f7 7.li:le2 @g7 B.li:lg3 @f7 9.li:lh5+b) l ...g5t 2.@g4+1-0
Ex. 13-2
Ex. 13-5
1.�c3!
Ex. 13-4 Dubai Olympiad 1 986
l.W1h6!+(1 point) Black cannot fend off White's threats. 1-0
Variation from the game
l.W1d4t @g8 2.W1d5t!
German Ch, Bremen 1998
1...d3t! ( 1 point) Transition to a won pawn ending. After 1 ...13g1 or 1 ...13b l , White can reply 2.@d3. 2.@xdl dxc2t 3.@Xc2 @e4 4.@d2 @f3 5.@el f4!-+ (1 point) 6.gxf4 @xf4 7.@e2 @g4 8.@e3 @xh4 9.@f4 @h3 10.@g5 @g2 1 l.f4 @g3 12.@xg6 @xf4 13.@xh5 @e3 14.@g5 @d3 1 5.@f5 @c3 16.@e5 b4 17.@d5 @b2-+
(2 points) Returning part of the material, in order to stifle the counterplay and simplify the game, is the best practical decision. Computers are reluctant to return material, but for humans simplicity is king! 2...W1xd5 3.cxd5 hd5 4.b4 @f8 5.b5 @e7 6.b6 @e6 6 ...@d6 7.13d l! @c6 B.13xd5!+7J:!c7 h6 7 ... @d6 B.13xh7 @c6 9.b7+8.b7 hb7 9.13xb7 @e5 10J�b6 g5 1 1 .13xh6 gxh4 12.13xh4+-
135
Solutions Ex. 13-6 Moscow 1936
1 .E:d3! (2 points) 'This should be noted: White does not push his passed pawn, but turns to attack his opponent's kingside pawns. This corresponds totally to an important principle of exploiting an advantage - theprinciple oftwo weaknesses.' - M.Dvoretsky 1 ...g5 2.E:d6t 'it>b7 3.fxg5 3.E:xh6 is less precise, due to 3 ... gxf4 followed by ...�d5. O.Capablanca) 3...hxg5 4.E:g6 E:f8 5.E:xg5+White has won a second pawn and went on to win the game.
Ex. 13-7 USSR Ch 151 League, Ashkhabad 1 978
1.�d7+( 1 point) The simplification of the position by the exchange of queens is the simplest way to victory. 1 ... 'it>b6 2.�xc7t 'it>xc7 3.'it>fl �a5 4.'it>e2 'it>c6 5.ttle4 �d8 6.f4 h6 7.g4 'it>d5 8.ttlg3!? �f6 9.'it>f3 'it>e6 10.'it>e4 .tc3 1 1.ttlf5 h5 12.gxh5 'it>f6 13.ttle3!? 'it>g7 14.ttlg4 i.a5 15.f5 1-0
l ...E:b3t 2.E:xb3 axb3 3.liJxf7 gives White good drawing chances, since there are very few pawns left. In fact, Black has a forced win. 1 ... ttlxf4t!-+ (2 points) 2.gxf4 E:xf4 White resigned, in view of 3.liJh3 E:f3t+-.
Ex. 13-9 German Ch, Saarbriicken 2002
l..J!h3t (2 points) The exchange of rooks gets rid of any counterplay. Only 1 point for 1 ... E:g3, after that the exchange of rooks is not so forcing. 2.'it>g2 E:g3t 3.'it>hl E:xgIt 4.'it>xgl 'it>h6 5.b5 he5 6.b6 Or 6.'i!7g2 liJe4 7.E:e7 liJg5 S.b6 It>xh5 9.b7 h3t 1 O.'i!7g1 'it>g4 1 1 .E:e8 d4 1 2.b8� i.xb8 13.E:xbS e5-+. 6 ...i.d4t 7.'it>g2 hb6 8.E:f6t 'it>xh5 9.E:xe6 ttlc4-+ White resigned.
Ex. 13-10 Swiss Team Ch 2001
l.�g6t Just as good is l .�f7t 'i!7hS 2.�h5t+-. ( I point)
Ex. 13-8 2...�xh5t 3.ttlxh5 i.d4 4.f6!+1-0
US Open, Cherry Hill 2002
After 1 . ..lt>g4 there follows 2.lt>d2 and Black has not achieved much (only 1 point for this move).
1 36
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Solutions
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Ex. 13-12
Ex. 13- 1 1
A .�b-ro;;--
Sarajevo 1 984
Stockholm 2003
1...!!:h8!
l.b5! (1 point) 1 .!!:e4 is bad, due to l ...axb4 2.axb4 iLlxb4!. 1.. .!:'lc3 Or l ...!!:c7 2.ibl! iLlxel 3.!!:xc7 .ixb5 4.!!:c3!+-. 2 .ibl!+Take 1 point if you saw this idea here or after other black rook moves. The move 2.!!:e2 is not so good, because of 2 ... iLld4!. Black resigned, on account of 2 ... iLlxe1 3.!!:xc3 .ixb5 4.!!:e3+-. 1-0 •
( �>
-41
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( 1 point) The threat is if2t. Black must play for mate. l...!!:h7 (or h6, h5, h4) is equally good. 2.!!:b2 !!:e8 (1 point) 2...!!:a8-+ would be just as strong. White resigned, in view of3.!!:bl .if2t 4.mfl !!:h8-+ and then !!:hl#. The white pawns are juSt getting in the way of the defence. 0-1
Scoring •
•
······ ·· ··� Excellent 15 Roints and above··· ··· ····· u ... ... u . u� Good 1 1 poin ts· ····· · · u u . . .. . ....... u··· · ··· · � Pass mark
1 8 .points and above···
Ifyou scored less than 1 1 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 1 37
rr. ;:
14 Contents The struggle for the open file 0/ Doubling rooks -/ Outposts -/ Controlling the entrY square on the 7th (2nd) or 8th ( lst) rank -/ Exploiting the open Ele - invading the 7th (2nd) or 8th (l st) rank -/
Open files and Outposts The open file is an important strategic element. The major pieces need an open file to get into the game. It is very important to control an open file. Often the struggle for a single open file decides the strategic battle. Why should you occupy an open file? In order to invade the 7th (2nd) or 8th (1st) rank! From there, the rook or queen can either attack the opposing king or attack the unprotected pawns from the side. The pawns are especially susceptible to attacks from the side, because they cannot protect one another. In addition, there are many different points of attack on the back rank. In the struggle for the open file, the following elements are used: 1 ) Doubling rooks 2) Outposts 3) Controlling the entry square on the 7th (2nd) or 8th (1 st) rank In the following example, we can see these elements in praxis in an instructive game berween rwo amateurs.
Bad Wiessee 1 999
l.d4 tLlfG 2.tl:lf:J e6 3.�g5 d5 4.e3 b6 5.tLlbd2 �b7 6.tLle5 6.�d3!? 6...�e7 7.�d3 tLlfd7!? If 7...tilbd7, then 8 ..1b5 0-0 (8...a6 9.�xf6 axb5 1 0.�xg7 Elg8 1 1 .tilxd7 '?;Vxd7 1 2 ..1e5 Elxg2 1 3.ig3±) 9.tilc6;1;. After 7 ... 0-0 comes 8.ixf6 ixf6 9.f4;1;. 8.�f4!?;!; Also good would be 8.ixe7 '?;Vxe7 9.f4;1;. 8...�d6?! In the opening, it is usually not good to move the same piece rwice. 8 ... tilc6!? was preferable.
Open files and OutpOSts
tl
�
'"
-------�( Diagram 14-1 Diagram 14-1
White should bring his strongest piece into the game. It is better ro play either 9.�h5!? g6 10.�h6;!; or 9.�g4, intending ro meet 9 ...0-0 with 1 0.�h6 �f6 I l .lLlxd7 1L1xd7 1 2.�g5+-. 9... £6 10.lilxd7 �xd7 1 0 ...lLlxd7 1 1 ..ixd6 cxd6;!; would not be bad either. 1 1.0-0 �xf4 1 l ...lLlc6!? 12.exf4 0-0 13.c3 �d6 Black should play 1 3. . ..ia6! 14.ixa6 lilxa6 1 5J'1el c6=. 14.g3 lild7 15.�c2 h6 This weakens the white squares near the king. Better would be 1 5 ...5!?;!;. 16.gfe1 gfe8 Diagram 14-2 17.ge3 White prepares ro double his rooks on the semi open e-file, in order to create pressure against the e6pawn. 17...e5 Black looks for counterplay in the centre. This strategy may be praiseworthy, but here it fails, as a result of the weaknesses in the castled position. Better was 1 7...lilfS;!;. 1 8.�h7t 'it>h8 19.9ael?! The correct continuation was 19.�g6! ge7 20.lilh4±, threatening lLlf5. 19 e4 20.�g6 ged8 21 .lilh4 lilfS 22.£5 If 22.f3!?, then 22 ...1L1xg6 23.1L1xg6t It>h7= . 22 �c6?! Intending ...ieS, but Black underestimates the next move. He should first look for active counterplay. The correct idea was 22 ...c5!?�, to prepare ro open the c-file. Diagram 14-3 23.6!± White opens the e-file. His pieces are ready to exploit this file and invade his opponent's camp. 23 ... ex6 24.�f2! lilh7
7 6 5 4 3 2
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Diagram 14-3
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Diagram 14-2
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�-=",.....,,....,
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'h7 White cannot do much against the threatened attack by ...h5-h4. Nor can the b4-pawn be defended. White resigned. 0-1 .
1 42
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Exercises l::,.
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> Ex. 14- 1 -(
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Exercises 8
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1 44
Solutions
( ?:I�:>
�II
------------------------------------
Ex. 1 4-1
5 . . J3xc1 would not be so strong: 6.E:axcl lLlxd2 7.E:xc8t Wlxc8 8.Wldl lLle4 9.Wlc1 with counterplay.
M.Taimanov - Y.Averbakh Zurich 1 953
U� d6! (l point) Occupying the outpost. L.ib7 If LJ�xd6 2.exd6 f6, then 3J3a7 +-. 2.gadl Also possible are 2.h4!? and 2.e4!? 2 gxd6 If 2....tc8, then White plays 3.e4, with various ideas: E:dl -d3-h3, .tc1 -g5 and f4-f5. 3.exd6 White has a dangerous attack and a strong passed pawn on d6. •..
Ex. 14-2
Ex. 1 4-4 USSR Ch, Moscow 1931
1 .!::!d2! (2 points) 1 .!::!d4 is not so precise ( 1 point), because the rook on d4 can be attacked. 1 ...c!ij b6 2.!::! adl Wle5 2....td7 3.lLle5 lLlf6 4.a5 lLlxc4 (4...lLlbd5!?) 5 .E:xd7 lLlxd7 6.!::!xd7 Wlb4 7.lLlxc4± M.Borvinnik. 2 ... e5 3.E:d6!?± or 2 ...Wlb4 3.E:d4±. 3.ia2± Ex. 14-5
Zurich 1953
A.Kar ov - S.CIi oric
l.ge3!?± (2 points) A thematic move, preparing ro double on the b-file. For the moves 1 .lLlc3, 1 .lLle3, 1 .lLlf2, 1 ..tg2 or 1 .ia5 you only get 1 point. l... c!ijh7 2.geb3 id7 3.Wla5 Wle8 4.c!ij 1l id8 5.Wlc3 ia4 6.!Bb2 If 6.E:b7, then 6 ...E:e7. 6 c!ij d7 7.h4 ga7 8.ih3 Wle7 9. lLl g5 c!ijxg5 lo.ixg5 ixg5 I l.hxg5 'ibg7 12.Wlf3!+ White plans Wg2, .txd7, Wlf6t and E:h1 . 12 ...Wld8 See Ex. 14-8. •..
Ex. 14-3 Zurich 1 953
(2 points) Doubling rooks. L.E:c7! is equally good. 2.ixa6 Wlxa6 3. c!ijf3 gfeS 4.Wlb3 c!ij e4 5. c!ijd2 ge2!+
San Antonio 1972
(2 points) White prepares ro double. The active move l .g6 is not bad (1 point). Nor is the consolidating move l .Wlg2 (also 1 point). The deeper meaning behind A.Karpov's move does not become clear until move 5. 1 . ..Wle7? Black intends 2.Wlhl Wlf8. However, L.a5 was better. 2. c!ij b3 'ibe7 3.'ibf3 (Xc5) 3 ...c!ij d7 4.a3! Suddenly Karpov opens another file on the queenside. 4 ... bxa3 5J� a2!-. Elh4 6.Elxa3 Elgh8 7.gbl (t.lLla5) 7..J�b8 Better is 7.. .f6. Wl 8. ell Elxg4 8 .. J�hh8 9.Wla5t WcB 1 0.f6! gxf6 I l.lLlxc5+9.Wxg4 ie8 IO.Wla5t Black resigned in view of 1 0...E:b6 I l .lLlxc5 ixc5 1 2.l"ixb6 ixb6 13.,ixb6t lLlxb6 14.c5+-.
145
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Solutions
) Ex. 14-6
Ex. 14-9
Bundesliga 1 995
Nice Olympiad 1974
1.Eld7!;!;
1 ..ia7!
( 1 point) The invasion of the 7th rank also limits the mobility of the knight on e8. 1...Ele7 1 ...tiJc7? is bad. due to 2.bxa5 bxa5 3.Elxa5. After 1 ...Elb8!? White does not play 2.bxa5 bxa5 3.Elxa5 E:xb2 4.E:a8. on account of 4... i>f8 5.E:dd8 g6=. but rather 2.i>e2!? axb4 3.E:d4!;!;. 2.Elad 1!;!;
(3 pOints) Only 1 point for I .VNb2. since in this case White cannot win the struggle for the open a-file. but has to exchange the rooks Karpov's play illustrates a very important procedure: doubling rooks behind a piece which is placed in front of them. thus taking control of the a-file. 1. tLleS 2.ie2 tLle7 3.Elea1± •.
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Ex. 14-7
Ex. 14-10
E.G�Il�r - V.Sima in
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USSR Ch, Moscow 1 9 5 1 Munich 1 992
1..ia6!
l..J:leS! (1 point) The rook should occupy the open file. 2.�d2 �e5 Doubling on the open e-file. 3.�f4 �c3+ Ex. 14-S Zurich 1 953
1 .Elb7! (2 points) Invading the 7th rank. l .ixd7 ( l point) is not so strong. in view of 1 ...Elxd7 2.Elb8 VNxb8 3.E:xb8 Elxb8 4.VNf6t i>h7=. 1...Elxb7 2.Elxb7 \t>gS The threat was 3.ixd7 ixd7 4.VNfGt+-. 3 ..ixd7 .ixd7 4.tLlg4! �xg5 If 4. . .E:e7. then 5.tiJf6t \t>g7 6.VNhl +- while 4 ...ixg4 10ses at once to 5.VNxf7t+-. 5.Elxd7 f5 6.exf5 ElbS+1-0
(2 points) Controlling the entry square c8. Another move which would not be bad is l .E:xc8!? VNxc8 2.E:cl± ( 1 point). 1...ha6 2.�xa6 Elxc1 3.Elxc1 �aS 4.oid6 EldS 5.e5 .ig7 6.Ele7!+Invading the 7th rank. 6...�e4 7.tLld2 �e1 t For 7...VNxd4. see Ex. 14- 1 1 . S.tLlfl tLlfB 9.�xa7 .ih6 10.Elxf7 �bl 1 1.�e7 EleS 12.Elxh7 tLlxh7 13.VNxe6t i>g7 14.�d7t \t>gS 15.�xeSt \t>g7 16.�e7t \t>gS 17.e6 1-0
1 46
Ex. 14- 1 1 Variation from the game
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E.Geller V.sima in
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USSR Ch, Moscow 1 9 5 1
l.Elxd7!+( 1 point)
S_o_l_ io u_t_ _ns
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trI �
Ex. 14-12 Amsterdam
o
1956
l.gc6!
(l point) Occupying the outpost. 1. �dS Or 1 ...1'1xc6 2.bxc6, intending �a6-b7 and then a5±, with an attack on the queens ide. 2.gacl lOfG Planning ...lLld7-c5. .•
3.ifl! gcbS If 3...lLld7, then 4.ih3! 1'1xc6 5.dxc6 lLlc5 6.lLld5, threatening 7.c7±. 4.ih3 a6 5.gel! So that the e4-pawn will be defended after the planned 6.lLlc4. If 5.f3, then 5 ... axb5 6.axb5 h4� T. Petrosian. 5 ...axb5 6.axb5 lLlh7 7.lOc4± (Xb6) 7...ga2 S.ig2 �fG 9.gfl lOg5 10.�b3 gbaS I l.gxb6 gal 12.gc6 gSa2 13.�e3+-
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Scoring 17 points and above.
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Excellent
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14 poin ts and above·· ····...... ..· .. . ..· .� Goo 10 points . ....· . . . ... . . ·�Pass mark .
.. .· .
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Ifyou scored less than 10 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 1 47
......
15 Combinations
Contents The combination Aims of combinations ./ Active moves ./ Checks and forcing play ./ When should you stop - calculating? ./
By a combination we mean a sequence offorcing moves with a specific goal, and grounded in tactics. A sacrifice is likely to be present and Botvinnik, among others, says is always present. ' (The Oxford Companion to Chess)
./
The aim of a combination need not simply be mate, but it can also be winning material, stalemate or promoting a pawn. In the earlier lessons, we have already studied some typical mating combinations. What is most important of all is that your opponent is enticed into a forced exchange of material and has to follow through to the end of the sequence. Firstly, try looking at the diagrams in the following examples and finding the correct combination on your own, before looking at the explanations which accompany them!
Diagram 1 5-1
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N.Short - C.Lutz
7
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Budapest 2003
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White finds a forced mate. l .�xf7t! cllxf7 2.Wff5t cllg7 2 . . . 'it>eB is no better: 3.!le5t 1i.e7 4.!lxe7t 'it>dB 5.VNxd7#. 3.Wfxd7t cllg6 Or 3 ...1i.e7 4.VNxe7t 'it>hB 5.1Wf6t !lg7 6.1WfBt 'it>h7 (6... !lgB 7.11Nh6#) 7.g6t! 'it>h6 (7 ...'it>xg6 B.!lg5f+-; 7...!lxg6 B.!lh5t and then mate) B.VNhBt �xg6 9.VNh5t M6 lO.VNf5#. 4.Wfe6t Black resigned, in view of 4... 'it>h5 (or 4 ...�f6 5.1Wf5t �h5 6.1Wh3t 'it>g6 7.1Wh6t 'it>f7 B.1Wxf6t 'it>eB 9.VNe7#) 5 .1Wh3t 'it>g6 6.1Wh6t �f7 7.!lf5t �eB B.1We6t and then mate.
Combinations
( Diagram 1 5-2
t::,.
Diagram 15-2 8
Budapest 2003
U;h7t!! White sacrifices a whole rook, just to bring her queen ontO the open file with tempo. 1. ..i>xh7 2.�h2t i>g8 2".i>g7 is even worse, on account of 3.�h6t. 3J�hl The threat is �h8# or �h7#. Black must give up his queen to prevent mate. 3...ixg5t 4.�xg5 �xg5t 4".i>g7 does not save the queen, because of 5.tiJxe6t!, and if 5".fxe6 then 6.�h7t I!if6 7.g5t! I!ixg5 8.�h4#. 5.f4 �xf4t 6.�xf4 ixe4 7.�xe4 But not 7.�h6?? due to 7".ioxh l . White has a decisive material and positional advantage. Black may have resigned too early here, but White should win in the long run.
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Diagram 15-3 8 Correspondence 1 957
7
White finds a lovely drawing combination. Ij:'�a8! gxa8 2.�a2t= And Black must stalemate his opponent: 2 gxa2 stalemate. Because 2".i>f8?? allows 3.�f7#.
6
I n a combination, you normally only use active moves: checks, captures, various attacking moves or threats. In this lesson, it is precisely these active possibilities on which you should be concentrating. Special attention needs to be paid to the first moves.
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Tactics 7
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�) � Diagram 15-4 Co
Diagram 1 5-4
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Kemeri 1 937
7
In the game, Black played: 1...,he4?! And obtained just a small advantage. Instead Black could have played the combination l ...:i"lc2! 2.�xc2 �xf3t 3.i>gl �h3 4.4Jf6t 4Jxf6-+ winning immediately.
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Diagram 1 5-5
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Diagram 15-5 8
USSR Ch. Leningrad 1 9 5 1
7
Of course, the highest priority has to be given to checks. In this position Black found a forced win. 1 ...:i"lxb2t! 2.'i!?xb2 �b4t 3.'it>al Or 3.i>a2 1"lc2t 4.i>al �b2#. 3 �a3t 4.�bl );b7t 5.�c2 );b2t 6.�dl �al#
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Diagram 1 5-6
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Diagram 15-6 8
Ukrainian Ch 1 947
7
Whi te has a strong attack. l.�g6t 'it>f8 2.);e6!! An important, active, attacking move which his opponent cannot ignore. 2...�c5 2 ...�xe6 3.dxe6 leads to a situation in which Black can do nothing about the threat of mate on fl. 3.);xf6t! A typical sacrifice which opens up the king's position. 3...exf6 4.�xf6t �g8 Or 4... i>e8 5.�xh8t+-. 5.�g6t 'it>f8 6.4Je6t
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1 50
Combinations
( And White wins: 6 ... 'i!?e7 7.�f6t 'i!?d6 Or 7...l!ie8 8.liJg7#. 8.liJf4t ie6 9.�xe6# In order to achieve the goal of the combination, you often have to accept temporary material losses. When this is the case, you should not break off your calculation of lines too soon. The position can only be evaluated when there are no more active moves left. In the examples which follow, we shall see once more how important the active moves are. Try to attack the opposing pieces!
Diagram 1 5-7 Variation from the game
8 7
World Ch, Buenos Aires (I) 1 927
6
1...�c7! 2.l:H8 If 2.�b3 �xb8 3.�xf7t, then 3 ...'i!?h6-+ escapes the checks. 2J!a8 would not be good, on account of 2. . .�c6-+, with an attack on the rook and also the threar oH!e1 t. 2...'i!?g7! 3.ga8 geIt Or first 3 ... '-'
Ci'.
8
Rook pawn With either a rook or a bishop pawn. the winning method described above does not work. since there is also a stalemate defence. Hence many endings of this sort finish in a draw. The win only becomes possible if the white king is near enough [0 help its queen deliver mate or win the pawn.
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Diagram 16-5
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Example 4
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Diagram 16-6
Diagram 16-5 Here, the white king is ourside of the winning zone: a4-c4-d3-e3-e 1 . The posirion is drawn, although Black still has to play very carefully, since the white king is not so far away. l.�b4t �a2 2.�c3 If 2.�d2, then 2".>!1b l ! (bur not 2".>!1a l ? 3.�c1 t+-) 3.�d3 and then either: a) 3".>!1b2 4.�e2 'kt>al!= (if 4".>!1b l??, then 5 .>!1c4 c1�t 6.>!1b3-+ is another important mating position) b) or the immediate 3".>!1a l =. 2 ... �bl 3.�b3t >!1al! An important stalemate defence. 4.�xc2 stalemate.
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Diagram 16-7 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I a
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Example 6
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Diagram 16-6 The black king is on the wrong side of the pawn. So the winning zone is bigger here: a5-d5-e4-g4-g1 . 1 .�d4t �e2 2.�c3 'i!?dl 3.�d3t >!1cl Black does not yet have a stalemate defence. 4.�c4 The white king is now close enough to the b3square. 4 ... �b2 5.�d2 �bl 5 " .>!1al 6.�c1 t+6.�b3 cl� 7.�a2# Diagram 16-7 1 .�d4t �cl Black wants to bring his king to the correct side. If l ...'kt>e2, then 2.�b2 'kt>dl 3.>!1f2, continuing as in the main variarion. 2.�alt But not 2. >!1f2? >!1b l =. 2 ... �d2 3.�b2 �dl 4.�f2! �d2 After 4".c1 WI there comes 5.WIe2#. 5.�d4t �cl 6.�e2 �bl 7.�b4t �a2 7".>!1c1 8.>!1d3 >!1dl 9.�d2# 8.�d2+-
h
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158
Queen against Pawn
( You do not have to memorize the winning zones. It is enough if you understand the methods described above. If the king is far away from a rook pawn or a bishop pawn, the win is impossible. If it is close by, you must check out the specific variations.
Pawn on the 6th (3rd) rank Diagram 16-8 8
1 96 5
7
With a pawn on the 6th rank, White's task is even easier, since there is no threat of a stalemate. But there are some positions known to theory which are drawn, because the pieces of the stronger side do not so much help each other as get in each other's way. 1.�f6! The pin on the diagonal leads to an elementary win. l...�b3 l ...�c2 2.�d4+2.�d4 Or Z.l!Ig6+-. 2... c2 Black has no way to improve his position, and White will bring his king closer. 3.�a1+The queen blocks the pawn. The positions in the test will help you gain a better understanding of the subject of the lesson. In each case, you must also give YOut evaluation of the position (+- or or -+). =
1 59
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Solutions Evaluation +-
Ex. 16-1
Evaluation +-
( I point) 1.1!?e4! 1 .1M'd5t? would be wrong, on account of 1...lt>e l ! drawing. 1 ...lt>cl? would allow white to play 2.1M'a2! and return to the main line. White plays for mate, as in Examples 4 and 5 . L.cIW1 2.�d3+( I point) 2...W1f4 3.W1c2t �el 4.W1e2#
( 1 point) White forces the black king to occupy the square in front of the passed pawn, then the white king approaches. . . 1 .W1c4t �d2 2.W1b3 �cI 3.W1c3t �bl 4.�d6 ( 1 point) And then carry on as in Example 1 . 4...�a2 5.W1a5t Or 5.1M'c2 It>al 6.1M'a4t+-. 5 ... l!?b3 6.W1b5t �c2 7.W1c4t �d2 8.W1b3 I!?cl 9.W1c3t �bl 10.lt>c5 �a2 1 1.W1a5t �b3 12.W1b4t �c2 13.W1c4t �d2 14.W1b3 �cl 15.W1c3t �bl 16.�b4 �a2 17.W1a3t I!?bI 18.�c3+-
Ex. 16-6
Evaluation +(I point)
(I point) The white queen blocks the pawn! (Winning rule). See Example 7.
Ex. 16-2
Evaluation
Ex. 16-5
=
(I point)
Ex. 16-7
( I point)
Evaluation =
( I point)
(2 points) But not 1 . ..lt>b 1 ?, in view of 2.lt>c3 c l 1M't 3.lt>b3+-, with the same mating position as in Example 4. 2.W1d2 �bl=
(1 point)
See Example 3. Evaluation =
Ex. 16-3
1. ..W1xc7 stalemate. See Example 4. Evaluation +-
(I point)
Evaluation +-
Ex. 16-4
1.W1g2!!+-
( I point) It is important that Black still has a second pawn, so that the stalemate defence does not work. (Without the h-pawn the position would be drawn!) 1 .W1b3t �al 2.W1c2! But not 2.1M'xh3?? It>b2=. 2 h2 3.W1cl# (I point) •••
Ex. 16-8
(I point)
(2 points) Only this tactical trick wins! 1 .1M'd4t? It>e2 2.1M'c3 It>dl 3.1M'd3 It>cl 4.lt>d4 1t>b2 leads to a draw, as in Example 4 and Ex. 1 6-7. 1. �d3 Or 1. ..cl1M' 2.1M'g5t It>d3 3.1M'xcl +-. 2.W1g5!+And then 1M' cl and the queen blocks the pawn (Winning rule).
1 62
.•
11
Solutions
A �
� � .
---------------------------------
Evaluation =
l.Wlb3t 'it>al 2.Wldlt 'it>b2 3.Wld2t 'it>bl 4.'it>b4!
( l point)
1...'it>c3!=
Or 4.'it>a4!.
4 a1Wl 5.'it>b3+-
(2 points) If 1 ...'it>d 1 ? , then 2.'it>d4 c1Wl 3.';!{d3+-. See Ex. 1 6-5.
(l point)
.•.
See Example 3.
2.Wla3t 'it>d2 3.Wlb2 'it>dl 4.Wld4t
After 4.'it>d4 comes 4. . .c1Wl= and the white queen is under attack!
Ex.
Evaluation
4 'it>c1 S.'it>e4 'it>bl=
16-12
=
•••
Evaluation +-
Ex.
1.'it>c8!
16-10 (l point)
I .Wlxa5 blWl is drawn. I .Wlc4t achieves nothing after l ...'it>a l .
l...'it>al 2.'it>e6!
(l point) With a transition to a won pawn endin�!
(1 point)
(2 points) To achieve a draw, White must get his bishop pawn to the 7th rank. Fortunately, the black king gets in the way of checks on the c8-h3 diagonal. l .'it>c7? loses to l...Wld5-+. I .We7? is hopeless: l ...Wlc2 2.Wd6 Wld3t 3.We6 Wlc4t 4.wd6 Wld4t 5.We6 Wlc5 6.wd7 Wld5t-+ (see Example 7).
2 blWl 3.Wlxbl t 'it>xbl 4.'it>dS 'it>c2 5.\!;>c4! 'it>d2 6.'it>bS 'it>c3 7.'it>xaS+-
1...'it>e4 2.c7 'it>dS 3.'it>b7 Wlb3t 4.'it>a7 Wla4t S.'it>b7 Wlc6t 6.'it>b8 Wlb6t
(1 point)
Or 6 ...Wld6 7.wb7 Wle7 (7...Wld7 8.wb8=) 8.'it>a8! Wc6 9.c8Wlt
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
f"-
Tactics 8
......
i!
�) � u
Diagram 17-6
8
Nuremberg 1 906
7
In a lost position, Black sets a final trap.
6
1...li>a 2.bS Ele3! 3.b6??
5
White does not see the trap! The correct move was 3.'it>f1 +-. 3 Elel t! 4.Elxe1 stalemate.
4
••.
3
2 1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Many beautiful examples of wonderful stalemate ideas can be found in studies.
T
Diagram 17-7
Diagram 17-7 From a study by
8 7
1 922
6
1 ...bl'i;V 2.lLlxbl t 'it>a4!
5
And either White loses the bishop, or he must stalemate his opponent! 3.iel stalemate.
4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Diagram 17-8
l::,.
Diagram 17-8
The end of a study by
, .
8
., G.Nada�eishvili '
,
1 973
7
1.ib4!!
6
The only way to draw. 1 .'it>xb3? loses to 1 ...ixd2-+. Salvation may seem in reach with the obvious l .ixcl ?, but there follows the unpleasant l ...l2lc5# (rather than the obliging 1 ...ltJxc l ? stalemate).
5 4 3
2
1...axb4 2.axb4!
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Either the knight is lost, or the white king is stalemated. 2.'it>xb3? loses after 2 ... ixa3-+. 2 lLld4 stalemate. •••
166
Stalemate Motifs
()
( We have already seen stalemate combinations in the middlegame. They are rare, but can be very effective.
.......
...
8 7
Oraclja 1 948
The black king and pawn cannot move. Black finds a way to sacrifice his superfluous pieces!
1...c!Llf4t! 2.gxf4
Or 2.';!{f3 \We2t 3.@xf4 \Wf3t 4.@xf3 stalemate.
2...�xf2t!
6 5 4 3 2
Also good is 2".\Wh 1 t!.
3.@h3 �xh2t!
1
Or 3" .\Wg2t!.
a
4.@g4 �h3t! 5.@xh3 stalemate.
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
...
Diagram 17-10
Diagram 17-10 8 Bunclesliga 1 983
7
l..J!clt! Black finds a stalemate idea: if he did not have his rook and queen, Black would have no possible moves!
2.@h2
2.�xc1 \Wxc1 t 3.@g2 \Wgl t! leads even more quickly to a draw.
2...�c2t 3.@h3 �hlt!
6 5 4 3 2 1
3".�xb l ? loses to 4.\Wa7t and then mate on g7. 4.�xhl �g2t! 5.@xg2 stalemate.
1 67
(t � '-.l
Diagram 17-9
Diagram 17-9
�
> �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
l'...... z
�)
" " U
Exercises £::,.
**
>Ex. 17- 1 -( 8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
a
b
c
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h
a
b
c
d
e
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1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h 1 68
Exercises ..
*
> Ex. 17-7-( 8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
6
**
> Ex. 17-10 -(
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
a
b
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a
b
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a
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2
1
*
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
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1 69
>-'
'--l
a
> Ex. 17-9-(
(
Solutions Ex.
17-1
Ex.
17-5
The end of a study by
The end of a study by
1 927
191 1
l.e4! 'it>gl 2.e5! dxe5 stalemate.
1.f8�t!
(1 point)
(1 point) But not l .f6t?, due to l . ..lLlxf6t!.
1...lLlxfS 2.f6t 'it>eS
Ex.
17-6
Or 2 ....txf6 stalemate.
3.f7t 'it>e7 stalemate.
Ljubljana 1945
(1 point) Ex.
17-2
1. ..i3xe5! 2.'it>xe5 Or 2.i3xf7 i3d5t!=, with a 'desperado rook', which time and again offers itself up as a sacrifice . . .
The end of a study by
2 f6t= •••
1922
( 1 point) And then stalemate.
The threat is ... lLlf3 and then ... lLlg5#.
l.i.g4!D
If l .g4? then l...lLlf3, followed by mate.
Ex.
1...�xg4 stalemate.
17-7
- M.Chi· oi-iIi C:SchIechter -
( 1 point)
Ostend 1 905
Ex. 17-3
1...'it>a8!=
(1 point)
The end of a study by
With a draw, in view of 2.ma6 (or 2:�xc7 stalemate) 2. . .'iWc8t 3.ma5 'iWc7!=.
1 979
l.dS� �h4t 2.'it>g7! �xdS stalemate.
Ex.
17-S
(1 point) Ex.
Rosrov on Don 1 94 1
17-4
The end of a study by
(1 point) 1 .'iWg5?? would lose to l...'iWf3t 2.mgl 'iWf2t 3.mhl 'iWh2#. White must sacrifice all his major pieces.
1 983
1.'it>gS! 1..J'hg7t
1...'it>xhS
( 1 point)
Or l...mxg6 2.'it>h8! i3xg7 stalemate.
2.'it>hS! E!a7
But not l ...mg6?? 2.'iWe6#.
2.E!bSt 'it>h7 3.i3hSt! 'it>xhS 4.�xg7t! And then stalemate.
2 ... mxg6 stalemate or 2 ...i3xg6 stalemate. 3.g7! E!xg7 stalemate. (1 point) 1 70
t i_ S__ olu __ n_s______________� ____________________ o_ Ex.
17-9
Ex.
Moscow 1 963
N
1....!Llg7t! 2.hg7 Wfg6t!!=
(l point) Since after 2.'iWxcl we have stalemate. Note that sacrificing the queen anywhere else (e.g. 1 . ..'iWh2t??) does not lead to stalemate, as the black king has access to the d2-square. Ex.
(l point) Stalemate follows. Ex.
17-12
Bucharest 1974
17-10
1 ....!Llf2t! 2.ixf2 2.�h2?? would be bad, on account of 2 ...'iWxh4t 3.�gl 'iWg3t-+ .
USSR Ch semifinal. Leningard 1 950
1.i.xe4t!
2...Wfh3t!
(l point) But not 1 .�e5t?? �xe5 2.i.xe4, because Black will not take the bishop!
3.gl
1. .. fxe4 2.�e5t!
( l point)
2 d6
(1 point)
Or 3.i.xh3 stalemate.
3 ...Wfg4t 4.�h2
4.i.g3 'iWxg3t 5.�hl 'iWxh4t 6.�gl 'iWg3t= leads to a perpetual check.
•••
4..J¥ih3t!=
Or 2 ... �xe5 stalemate.
'12-'12
3.�xe4=
With a theoretical draw, since rook and knight cannot win against rook. (Of course you still have to defend carefully.)
.
.
.
Scoring
.
.
.'-.......-- .-- .
Maximum number of points is 1 5
1 3 points and above-···· · ·· ···· ·· ·> Excellent
d
> Goo 1 1 poi nts and above-···· · · · · · u 8 poin ts···· ····· · · ···· ·· · ····· ··· ·· > Pass mark ••••••••
•••••
Ifyou scored less than 8 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 171
� '"
17-11
Berlin 1963
1. ..Wfd t!=
II
18 Forced variations
Contents The meaning of active moves ../ Forced variations ../ Combinations ../
In Chapter 15 we learned something about the importance of active moves (checks, captures or exchanges, various attacking moves or threats) . Normally, our opponent cannot ignore these moves and must react to them in an appropriate fashion. Active moves cause the game to take on a forced character. Forcing variations can frequently, with appropriate practice, be calcuated quite far into the future. In this lesson we will be training your ability to do just this.
Diagram 18-1 8
N.Gri oriev
7
1930
6
White has more dangerous passed pawns than his opponent and has a forced win. 1.£4! i>b4 The black king must get into the square of the f-pawn. (The concept of a passed pawn's square was explained in Chapter 4.) If 1 ... d5, then 2.f5 d4 3.f6 d3 4.0 d2 5.f81&t and White wins, on account of the promotion with check! 2.h4! d5 If 2 ... a5, then 3.h5 a4 4.h6 a3 5.h7 a2 6.h81&+ and the queen controls the queening square a1. 3.£5! But not 3.h5? d4=. 3 i>c5 4.h5! d4 Diagram 18-2 5.£6 This is the more elegant way, but White has another solution: 5 .lt>g2 1t>c4 6.1t>f2 (also good is 6.f6 d3 7.0 d2 8.f81& dl1& 9.1&fl t+-) 6 ... lt>b3 (or 6 ... 1t>c3 7.h6 d3 8.h7+-) 7.f6 d3 8.0 d2 9.f81& dl1& 1 O.1&f3t 1&xf3t 1 1 .1t>xf3 a5 1 2.h6 a4 1 3.h7 a3 1 4.h81& a2 1 5.1&al +-. 5 ...1!;>d6 6.h6 d3 7.fT i>e7 8.h7 d2 9.f81&t White entices the black king Onto the 8th rank, so that he can promote his h-pawn with check! 9...i>xffi 10.h81&t+-
5 4 3 2
1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
•.•
8 7 6 5 4 3
2 1 a
b
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g
h
Forced Variations
()
�
( I do nor differentiate, in principle, between forced variations and combinations. (A combination is defined as a forced variation with a sacrifice.) More important than this technical distinction is actually the forcing nature of the play. You can push your opponent into certain reactions withour having (0 sacrifice. We saw one example of this in Chapter 1 5, in the variation from the game J.Capablanca - A.Alekhine (Diagram 1 5-7). In the strictest sense of the term, that was nor a combination, bur only a forced variation. Here are some more examples of how to achieve your goal with attacking moves.
Diagram 18-3 8
New York 1 924
7
Capablanca finds a way (0 win the a5-pawn by force: 1 ..!Dc3! �k5 2. .!De4 E!b5 3 .!Ded6! This is even better than 3 .E!a 1 .!D b6 4 . .!Dxb6 E!xb6 5.E!xa5 .ic6±.
6
•
3 E!c5 4 .!Db7 ..•
•
5 4 3
With a decisive double attack.
2
4...E!c7 5. .!Dbxa5+-
1 a
Diagram 18-4
c
d
e
f
g
h
�
ZUrich 1 934
In the game White played a positional move, l .b4. Instead of that, however, he could have won a pawn with:
l .e4!
The threat is the double attack by e4-e5. Black would not have been able to hang on (0 his h7pawn.
1...dxe4
1 .. .�d8 2.e5 wins the h7-pawn in even better circumstances. 2 .!Dxe4 .!Dxe4 3 .ixe4 With a double attack on the rook on a8 and the pawn on h7. •
b
•
3....!Dd5 4.hh7t±
1 73
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
�
'"!
:! ,., )J ...... 00
00 r-
Calculating Variations 2
ei
�)
:c (;
Diagram 18-5
8
Politiken Cup. Copenhagen 2003
7
1. �g7! .•
6
Black prepares for the exchanges which will follow.
5
2.Eld2 d3!
4
Or else White could mount some counterplay against the d4-pawn.
3
3.Eledl
2 1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
3.e3 would be positionally good for Black. who would then obtain a strong passed pawn on d3.
3...dxe2 4.Elxd8 e1§'t
4".Elxd8 5.�xe2+ would not be so clear.
5.Elxel Elxelt 6.�h2 Elbl-+
Black wins a second pawn. Next came:
7.Eld4 b5 8.id5 Elxb4 9.hc4 Elxc4 10.Eld6 h5 1 1.�b6 b4 12.�g2 g5 13.�h2 h4 14.�h3 hxg3 15.&g3 �f8 16.�b5 f6 17.Elb7 �e8 18.Ela7 b3 19.�b7 �c3 20.�g4 �d8 21.�f5 �c8 22.Elb4 Elxg3 23.�xf6 �d7 24.�e5 �c6 25.Elb8 �c5 0-1 Diagram 18-6 8
Politiken Cup. Copenhagen 2003
7
You should not be surprised ro learn that Black wins by force here.
6 5
1 . ..�xb3t 2.�c2
2.�al Ela3t then mate. 2.'i!la2 Elc3t (2".Elb4t is good enough) 3. 'i!lb 1 W1b3t and then mate.
4 3
2...Eld3
2
As well as attacking the queen. this also threatens mate on b3.
1 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
3.§'b2
Or 3.W1b4 W1a2t 4.W1b2 Eld2t-+.
3...§'d5-+
The threat is ".Eld2t.
4.W1b4
Or 4.W1xb6 W1a2t-+.
4...§'a2t-+ 0-1 1 74
..,.. ... ( � ,..-
Forced Variations
Ii >
r.l 1i
But in this lesson we also want to look at some combinarions.
00
Diagram 18-7
.6.
Diagram 18-7 8
Leningrad 1 9 5 1
7
1.l3d7!
6
1 ,gld5!+- is also sufficient.
1".Vlfxd7
5
Black must accept the sacrifice, in view of rhe numerous threats.
4
An important intermediate check. 4.Vlfxb8? would
2
2.Vlfh8t �e7 3.Vlfxe5t Vlfe6 4.Vlfc7t!
3
be bad, on account of 4...Vlfxa2t 5 .�c1 Vlfa1 t 6.�d2 Vlfxfl .
a
4...�ffi
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
e
f
g
h
After 4 .. .'&d7 there comes 5,13xflt!+-.
5.Vlfxb8t
Black resigned. Diagram 18-8
Diagram 18-8 8 Magdeburg 1 927
7
Here too, Black has a forced win.
6
If 2.gfxf2, rhen 2...Vlfa1 t-+.
5
1...13xfl! 2.13exfl
2..J3xfl 3.Vlfxfl
4
The alrernatives are no better: 3.'iWb8t gf8t-+ or 3.gxf2 'iWa1 t-+.
3
3...Vlfe5-+
Black wins rhe queen.
2
1
0-1
a
1 75
b
c
d
,..... C/O
Calculating Variations 2
) Diagram 18-9 8
Karlsbad 1929
7
White sees his opportunity, attacks and wins the qame.
6 5
l.h5! tLle7
4
l ...e5 2.hxg6 exd4 3.gxf7t illh 8 4.:i"1xd4 loses two pawns without any compensation. 2..ixg7! 2.1l*'g5 would also be good: 2".f6 3.�xe6t ill h8 4.h6!+-. (R.Spielmann) 2.. @xg7 Black cannot decline the sacrifice, because there is not only the threat of �xf8, but also that of �f6 with a decisive attack, for example 2...ixe4 3.iRJ ih1 4.id5! �xd5 5 .1l*'h6 11Jf5 6.1l*'g5t, and mate.
3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
.
3.1l*'g5t tLlgG 4.h6t
Black has no defence against 1l*'f6 followed by mate on g7. 1-0
In the test we shall concentrate on active moves. It is important to spot and calculate forced variations in advance. You must, as always, pay particular attention to the first moves. Errors on the first move of a variation cannot be corrected later! As usual, try to solve the following positions without moving the pieces on the board. You should only move the pieces if, after some time, you cannot see a solution.
1 76
(,
><
Exercises �Ex. 18-1 !!!!g8 l 1 .gdf2 ggS 12.l!c2 gdl 0-1
Diagram 20-6
Diagram 20-6 Bad Pis cyan 1 9 1 2
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1...�d4t 2.\t>hl lLlf'5 The threat is ... tZlg3t. 3.Lf5 Lf5 4.gel t \t>f8 The black king is quite safe on f8 and can later go to g7. 5.�f3 5.h3 was necessary. Without the knight, it is hard for Black ro exploit the weak square g3. 5 ...h3! Since White has had to swap off his light-squared 1 94
Weak Poinrs
()
( �
�
---------------------------------
bishop, Black aims to play on the light squares. 6.g3 6.g4 is not good, due to 6 ... Wlh4!-+. 6....�d7 7..id2 .ig4 This bishop has now become very powerful! 8.Wifl?! A better try would be 8.Wld3 Wlf5 9.1'1e4+. 8...'�f5 9.1'1ac1 'i!Jg7 10 ..ie3 .if6 The second black bishop is also more active than its counrerpart! l l .b3 1'1he8 Black is preparing to double pieces on the e-file. 12..if'2 .if3t 13.'i!Jgl Diagram 20-7 13 ...i.g2! 14.1'1xe8 .ixf1! Since the white king position has been weakened, the black queen will be stronger in the attack than the cwo rooks. 15.1'1xa8 Wid3 16.1'1e8 1 6.1'1xfl fails to 16 ... Wlf3-+. 16...Wif3!! A forcing combination brings to an end a perfecdy played strategic game by Spielmann. 17.'i!Jxf1 WihI t 18.i.gl Wig2t 19.'i!Je1 WixgIt 20.'i!Jd2 Wixh2t-+ White resigned. One possible variation would be 2 1 .lL'le2 Wlg2 22.1'1gl Wlxgl!! 23.lL'lxgl h2 and Black wins.
You should find the weak points in your opponent's position and attack them. Weak squares, which often lie deep in your opponenr's half of the board, offer ideal and safe posts for your pieces. From these excellenr positions, your pieces can mounr active operations and attack the opposing pieces and pawns.
N o
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
a
b
c
d
e
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g
h
8 7 6
Diagram 20-8
5 4
Amsrerdam 1 963
l.ttld4! White wants to exchange the light-squared bishops, so that later on he can occupy the weak square c6. 1. ..Lg2 V.t>xg2 Wic7 3.Wib3! 1 95
� ill to
3 2 1
0 gl (also 1 poine), then l. ..li:'lb8!? However, l .ixc6?? would be very bad, due co 1 .. Jle4t-+. 1...:i'lf5 2.ixc6 ixc6 3.liJe5± (another 1 poine) White has occupied the weak poine e5, and stands clearly bener.
(2 poines) Threatening '&xh7t! and �h5+-. Only 1 poine for 1 .'&h6?!, since Black has a good defence: l...li:'lf5! 2.'&g5 h6 3.ixd8 hxg5 4.ixg5 c4;!;. L ..ifS 2.Wih6+1-0
Ex. 20-3
Ex. 20-6
�etin - S.Furman
E.Geller - .Bolbochan Stockholm 1962
USSR Ch, Leningrad 1963
LWid6!
LliJ la2! (2 poines) The knight goes via b4 co d5. I .Ii:'ld5 (I poine) is not as good, since after the exchange on d5, White must take with the pawn. The weakness on d5 is then 'plugged'. Ie is bener co have a piece posted on d5 rather than the pawn! After I .Ii:'ld3 comes 1 . ..d5!. L..liJc5 1 ...a5 would weaken the b5-square. 2.liJb4 a5 3.liJbd5 liJxd5 4.liJxd5 ixd5 5.Wixd5 Wixd5 6J!xd5 g6 7.c3 �a7 8.ib5±
( 1 poine) L..Wia7t After the exchange of queens, Black would no longer be able co protect his weakness on a5: l ...'&xd6 2.li:'lxd6 li:'ld7 3.li:'lc4+-. 2.fl liJd7 3.Wixc6+-
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10 hxg4 1 1 .�xg4 c!lJc6 12.f3? �d8 13.�fl c!lJe7 14.Elel 1'1h6 15.c!lJil? 1'1gh8 16.�g3 1'1xh3!-+ 17.�3 1'1xh3 1 8.Wlg2 Wlh7 19.c!lJe3 c!lJg6 20.c!lJg4 c!lJf4 21.�xf4 gxf4 22.�£1 1'1g3 23.Wlfl? Wlh3t 24.�e2 1'1g2 25.1'1g1 1'1xflt 26.c!lJxfl Wlh7 27.1'1hl Wlg6 0-1
R.Dautov - .Pol ar-
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Istanbul Olympiad 2000
1.c!lJd4! (2 points) The weak point is cG! Only 1 point for l .a3. However, l.liJe5 is not any good, since White loses the b4-pawn after the exchanges. 1...c!lJf6 2.b5 �xg2 3.�xg2 Eld5 4.c!lJc6 Wld7 5.Wle2!± The exchange of queens, together with the opening of the a-file by a7-a6, would be a welcome relief for Black: 5.1'1xd5? Wlxd5t G.Wlf3 Wlxf3t 7.Wxf3 aG=. 5 Wlb7 6.a4 h6 7.e4 1'1c5 8.Wld3 Elxc1 9.1'1xc1 a6 10.Ele4 Intending 1'1d4. 10...axb5 1 1.axb5 Wle7 Or l l . ..liJd7?! 1 2.1'1d4 liJc5 1 3.Wldl Wlc7 1 4.e5±. 12.E1d4± •..
Ex. 20-8 P.Clarke - T.Petrosian Munich 1 958
1. ..Wlb3! (Z points) 1 ...liJb3 (I point) is not so good, on account of 2.1'1b l . Exchanging queens is important for Black, since afterwards White will have no more attacking chances. 2.Wle2 After Z.Wlxb3 liJxb3, Black can continue with b5, a5 and b4. 2...�a4 3.�e3 �b8 Intending 1'1c8-cG-bG to target the weak bZ-pawn, but there was the even simpler 3 ... WlcZ!+. 4.1'1adl! Wlel! 5.1'1d2 Wlf5 6.1'1£1 g5� 7.h3 h5 8.c!lJh2 E1dg8 9.g4 Wlg6 10.�f3? Better is 1 0.f4 gxf4 1 L�xf4 hxg4 1 2.liJxg4'1'.
Ex. 20-9 Budapest Candidates 1 950
1.�e3! (3 points) The dG-square is weak, so White exchanges the piece which is protecting that square. Only 1 point for other bishop moves along the g5-cl diagonal. 1. ..1'1he8 1 ...�xe3 Z.fxe3 f5 3 .liJdG± 2.�e2! g6 3.c!lJe4! he3 3 ... ib4 4.g4 11Jg7 5.11Jbd6+4.fxe3 1'1e2 4...�xb5 5.axb5 liJc5 G.liJdG 1'1f8 7.bG! a6 8.1'1acl+5.c!lJbd6! E1f8 5 ... 1'1xeZ G.1'1xflt wd8 7.1'1f8t+6.�xa6 bxa6 7.g4 c!lJg7 8.c!lJf6! �e6 9.1'1fc1!+Black resigned in view of 9 ... 13gZt 1 0.wfl 1'1xhZ 1 1 .1'1xcG 1'1hl t I Z.Wg2 1'1xa l 13.1'1c7t Itd8 14.1'1d7#.
Ex. 20-10 M.Botvinnik - P.Keres World Ch, The Hague/Moscow 1 948
1.c!lJh5! (Z points) The pawns on g7 and f6 are weak. The knight attacks them both. After 1 .lte3 or l .g4 ( 1 point for these moves), there follows simply 1. ..gG. 1...c!lJe6 2.�e3 �e7 (�gG) 3.d5 c!lJe5
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Solutions Or 3 ...g6 4.tiJxf6 ltixf6 5.dxe6+-. 4.tiJxg7+- Itid6 5.tiJe6 tiJd7 6.ltid4 tiJe5 7..!LIg7 .!LIe4 8 ..!LIf5t ltie7 9.1tic3 ltid7 10.g4 tiJe5 1 l.g5 fxg5 12.hxg5 .!LIf3 13.ltib4 .!LIxg5 14.e5 h5 15.e6t Itid8 16.ltixb5 1-0
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2 ... .!LId3 3.gb1 Itid6 4.a4 g5 5.gd2 gbe8 6.b5 gb8 7. .!LIb3 e5 8 .!LIcl e4 9.';!;>d1 f4 10.ge2 g4 1 l.fxe4 f3 12.ga2 dxe4-+ •
Ex. 20-12 :
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Moscow 1 96 1
Ex. 20- 1 1
l.a5!
M.Aaron - M.Botvinnik Leipzig Olympiad 1 960
l....!LIe5! (3 poims) This tactical trick brings the knight omo the weak square d3. 1 poim for the moves 1 ...@d6, l ...gf8 or l . ..g5, which do improve the position, but do not exploit the weakness on d3. 2.@e2 After 2.bxc5 gxc5 3.tiJxc4 gxc4+ the c3pawn is weak.
(2 poims) l. .. .!LIe5 2.�b6 The c5-pawn is weak. 2...ga8 3.gc3! 3.ixc5 gc8 would expose the weakness of the c4-pawn. 3...ge8 Or 3 .. .f6 4.tiJc7 gc8 5.a6 bxa6 6.tiJxa6 and the c5-pawn is dropping. 4. .!LIa7! ge8 5.Le5 .!LIg4 6.h3+1-0
Scoring Maximum number of poims is 23
2 0 points and above · · · · � Excellent 17 points and above 12 poin ts· ·
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Ifyou scored less than 12 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 201
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21 Pawn combinations
Contents Underpromotion Two connected passed pawns on the 6th (3rd) rank -/ The pawn phalanx -/ The pawn fork -/ Mating motifs with pawns -/
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The famous French chess master Franxd4 This is the simplest. Now Black has obtained a fourth connected passed pawn! 203
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The pawn phalanx In the next example, Aron Nimzowitsch made superb use of the penetrative power of a pawn phalanx against the author of Pawn Power in Chess.
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Two connected passed pawns Two connected passed pawns are much stronger than a single passed pawn, because they can offer each other mutual support. In the endgame a rook cannot stop two connected passed pawns on the 6th (or 3rd) rank (or one on the 7th and the other on the 5th rank). Diagram 21-3 l ...1:: hal! Hhal b3 3.l3aSt 'it>g7 4.'it>e2 If 4J�lbS, then 4 ... c2-+ while after 4.E:cS there comes 4... b2-+. 4... b2! 5.E:bS c2-+
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7.\�H2 �c4 8.�el d4 9.�e2 �d5 10.�a If 1 0.'tt>d3, then 1 0 ...�a6#. 10...i.b7 Don't be too hasty! Black brings his bishop into the game. 1 1 .:1'lel �c4t 12.�f2 b2 13.£5 exfS 14.e6 i.c6 White has no defence against .. .'tt>b3. For example, 1 5 .e7 \t>b3 1 6.!!e6 �e8-+. 0-1 The pawn fork The following typical exchanging combination uses the pawn fork to win the piece back and destroy the opposing centre. Diagram 21-5
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R.S ielmann - E.Cohn
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Ostend 1 907
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l...lLlxe4! 2.lLlxe4 d5 3.lLlg5 dxc4 4.�xc4 �d7+ Black has the bishop pair and stands better. The c6-bishop is particularly strong.
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S.Tarrasch - Em. Lasker
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l.e4 e5 2.lLla lLlc6 3.i.c4 lLlfG 4.lLlc3 Diagram 21-6 There is a standard reply to this variation. 4... lLlxe4! 5.lLlxe4 5.�xf7t \t>xf7 6.tiJxe4 d5 7.tiJeg5t \t>g8 is even better for Black. 5 ... d5 6.�d3 dxe4 7.he4 �d6= Black has no opening problems.
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Mating motifs with pawns Pawns are not only superb at supporting attacks, when the occasion arises they can also deliver mate themselves. Here are two spectacular examples. 204
Pawn Combinations
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Diagram 21-7
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l .cjje3! 1 .�g3? is bad, on account of 1 ...f4. 1...cjjxh4 If l.. .f4t 2.i>e4 f3 (2... i>xh4 3.g6! - see the main variation), then 3 .�f2+-. 2.g6! White is aiming for a zugzwang position. 2 ...f4t Or 2 ... fxg6 3.i>f4 wins similarly. 3.cjj f3! fxg6 4.cjjxf40 g5t 5.cjjrs g4 6.cjj f4 g3 7.hxg3#
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Diagram 21-8 Moldo'arov - Samochanov
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U'!g6! White is playing for mate. 1 .:i"i:xa5? i>g3= would only lead to a draw. 1...a4 2.cjj e3 a3 3.cjjf4 a2 4.l"ig3 Threatening :i"i:h3#. 4...�e6 5.:i"i:h3t! �3 6.g3#
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Ex. 21-1 l.g4! Bur not Ll:'la5 l:'lbB 2,g4 l:'lb6t 3,i>xf7 l:'lb7t=, l ...a2 HlhSt! gxhS 3.g5t l"lxg5 4.hxg5# (1 point) Ex. 21-2 1. .. l"lxc2! Ld3? 2,cxd3t i>xd3 3.h5 c2 4,h6 l"ldl 5,l"lxc2= 2.l"lxc2 d3 (1 point) 3.l"lc1 Or 3J"lxc3t i>xc3 4,h5 d2 5.h6 dlWf 6,h7 Wfd4-+. 3 ... d2 4.l"ldl c2-+
Ex. 21-5 V.Panov - M.Taimanov Moscow 19 52
1.l"lxa6! White now creates a pawn phalanx and wins the game. LWfe7 is not so energetic (only I point). 1. .. l"lxa6 2.d6! (2 points) 2...WfxeS If 2...Wfxd6, then 3.�d5t i>fB 4.WfhBt i>e7 5.Wfg7t i>eB 6.Wff7#. 3.fxeS l"la5 4.id5t i>f8 5.l"lbl+1-0 Ex. 21-6
Ex. 21-3
Palma de Mallorca 1969
1. ..e4!
Riga 1 982
1. ..e2! 2.i& Or 2.l"lxf4 l"lxf4 3.�xg3 i>c6-+. 2...ie3! (1 point) 3.l"lal gxf2t-+ But not 3 ...�xf2t? 4.i>hl elWft 5.l"lxel �xel and White has set up a drawing fortress. 0-1
Ex. 21-4 Moscow 1 935
In the game Menchik played l ...ic7? Instead the Women's World Champion could have won the game with a promotion combination: l ...Wfxb3! (1 point) 2.axb3 a2 (1 point) But not 2 ...ixc3, because of 3.Wfa6. 3.Wfdl ixc3-+
(2 points) Black seizes his chance and activates his pawns in the centre. Only I point for 1 ...l"lG. 2.Wfc4 If2.Wfxe4, then 2 ...l:'le5 3,Wfg4 h5-+. ( 1 point) 2...d5! 3.Wfb5 e3! 4.£4 4.l"lxe3 l:'lxf2t 5.l"lxf2 Wfxf2t-+ 4...d4 Another very strong move would be 4... Wfe6. 5.l"lc1?! g5!-+ 6.cxd4 gxf4 7.i>hl fxg3 8.Wfd7 cxd4 9.l"lgl l"ln 0-1
Ex. 21-7 I.Csom - T.Ghitescu Siegen Olympiad 1 970
l .ie7! ( I point) 1...ig5 Other moves lose more simply: 1 . ..�c7 2.lLJeBt+- or l. ..lLJxe7 2.lLJeBt i>fB 3.dBWf +-.
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"""' � -------------------------------------------------------------------4I � tr.� 2.lLle8t I!1h6 3.�ffit I!1h5 4.lLlg7t
Ex. 21-10 (1 point)
4...1!1h4 Or 4 ... @h6 5.lDf5t @h5 6.g4#. 5.@h2 Threarening g3#. 5 ...�d8 Or 5 ...�f4t 6.g3t+-. 6.f4! Threarening g3# once more. rhis rime decisively. 1-0 Ex. 21-8
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E.Melnichenko 1 979
l.gG! 1.@f4 would be wrong. on account of 1 ...f5!=. 1...fxgGt 1 ...f6 2.@xf6+2.l!1f4!0 g5t 3.l!1a Or 3.@f5 g4 4.@f4 g3 5.hxg3#. 3 ...g4t 4.l!1f4 g3 5.hxg3# (2 points) Ex. 21-11
B.Gulko - K.Gri orian USSR 1 97 1
U�ffit! l .lDg6!?+- (I point) is also good enough. bur rhe move in rhe game wins in a more forcing manner. l...E:xf8 l ...@h7 2.Vlig6# 2.Vlid5t! (1 point) 2... @h7 2 ...@hB 3.exfl)Vlit+3.exf8lLlt!! (1 point) 3...@h8 4.lLlegG# Ex. 21-9 .
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Lemberg 1 926
1.�h8t!! I!1xh8 2.g7t I!1g8 3.�h7t! I!1xh7 4.g8�# ( 1 point)
Ostend 1 907
1 ...lLlxe4! (1 point) 2.lLlxe4 d5 3.�xd5 �xd5 4.lLlc3 �d6=
Ex. 21-12 Gol"ak - Ga·duk Moscow 1 949
l.lLl f6! gxf6 2. exf6
(1 point) 2 ...E:gffi?! If 2 ... liJec6. rhen 3.0+-. Bur a more srubborn defence would be 2... lDbc6 3.0 �xg2t and rhen 4 .. J:1fB. 3.ixe7 E:O 4.E:e3 (t..�h5) 4... lLld7 5.�h5 gexe7 6.fxe7 gxe7 7.�el+1-0
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16 points and above · u. u·· ·· · · · � Excellent • •
13 points and aboveu. . . u..... . . . . � Good 9
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Ifyou scored less than 9 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
The World Chess Federation has the Latin motto Gens una sumus which means, 'We are one people'. Chess is a truly global spore, played worldwide by men, women and children of all races, religions and ages.
Judit Polgar is the strongest ever women player. Polgar became a grand master at 1 5, and since then she has established herself as a top player. In 2005 she became the first woman to compete in a World Championship final.
Viktor Korchnoi has been one of the best players in the world for over five decades, and he was still in the Top 1 00 at the age of75. 'If a player believes in miracles he can sometimes perform them.' - Y.Korchnoi
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C I:-l::A. P T E R Contents
22 The wrong bishop
Fortress I Cutting off from the 'saving corner' ./ Fortress II
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Sometimes in a game of chess, quite a large material advantage is not sufficient for victory. One example of this will be found in this lesson: an elementary defensive fortress based on the concept of the wrong bishop.
Diagram 22-1 8
Fortress I
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Although White is ahead by a bishop and a pawn, he cannot win the game. The defence is very simple: all the black king has to do is remain in the corner. The white king and the light-squared bishop are not in a position to drive the black king our of the dark corner square h8. So we say that White has the wrong bishop. In fact, if White had a dark-squared bishop, the win would be a very easy one. It is very important to point our here that White has a rook pawn. In every other case, White could win with the help of a simple zugzwang. 1.@f6 @g8 2.h6 @h8 White can only go for stalemate. 3.h?=
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Even if White had some more pawns on the h-file, the position would remain a draw! It is only when the stronger side manages to cut the opposing king off from the saving corner that one can hope for a win.
Diagram 22-2 Exam Ie 1
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Example 1
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1.�a2!+The black king cannot get into the corner and White wins by zugzwang. l .�h7? i>f7 2.i>f2 would not be so good here, on account of 2 ... i>f6! with the threat of ... i>g5. White would win in this position if his king could reach the f4-square. But here he cannot avoid a repetition
The Wrong Bishop
( of moves: 3.i.e4 1!If7 (6. ... l!Ig8) 4.ih7 I!1f6= This is an imporrant king manoeuvre, which we shall see again.
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Diagram 22-3
Exam Ie 2
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White can cut the black king off along the e8-h5 diagonal. 1.�h5!+Of course not l.ic2, in view of 1 . ..1!If7 with a draw, as in the previous example.
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The morif 'rook pawn and wrong bishop' somerimes offers the defending side surprising opporruniries for a draw.
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Example 2
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Diagram 22-4
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1.I!Ic2!0= This is the only move which saves the game: 1 .1!Ic3?? loses mer l . ..ib3-+ and 1 .I!Ic 1 ?? is bad due co l ...l!Ib3-+. This is an instructive position of murual zugzwang. With Black co move, the position is drawn, since Black has to let the opposing king into the saving corner. With White to move, Black wins.
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The transition to an endgame with the wrong bishop and a rook pawn is an imporrant defensive resource. When he has the wrong bishop, the stronger side must play with great care to prevent this drawing fortress. The following instructive endgame, which appeared in my book Schachunterricht with faulty comments, illustrates the serious technical problems which both sides face. 213
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Endgame 4
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Diagram 22-5
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San Antonio 1 972
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1..Jlb2 This move was criticized, but it is not easy to find another plan. For example, L.gS?! 2.i>f3 i>f5 3.i>g2 and Black cannot make any progress. 2Jhb2 hb2 3.�f3! To achieve a draw, White must either swap off the pawn on g6 or entice it on to the h-file. (Black then has the wrong bishop!) White can achieve this second aim if he first immobilizes Black's g6-pawn, with the moves h4, g4 and gS, and then attacks it with h4-hS. However, purring this plan into acrion toO hastily would grant Black an opportunity to win. Nter 3.h4? Black has to find the only route to victory: 3 ... i>g7! (6 . . .i>h6-hS) Diagram 22-6 This is the only redeployment which draws the sting from White's defensive idea. A draw would be the result after 3 ... i>f5? 4.i>f3 i>e6 S.g4 ic3 6.g5 i>fS 7.hS!=. 4.g4 The following variation shows how Black can win against passive defence: 4.i>f3 i>h6 S.i>g4 �eS 6.i>h3 i>hS 7.g4t i>h6 8.i>g2 �c7 9.i>f3 �d8 1 0.i>g3 �e7 1 1 .i>h3 �b4 1 2.i>g3 �e 1 t 1 3.i>h3 �f2-+ White is in zugzwang. 4...i>h6! S.M3 �c3 6.i>e4 ie l 7.hS gS 8.MS �c3 9.i>e6 i>g7! O f course not 9 ... �d4?, on account of 1 0.i>f7 i>h7 1 1 .i>f8 �c3 12.i>f7 �g7 13.i>e6 i>g8 14.i> f5=. Black must not allow the opposing king to get to fl. 10.i>fS id2 1 1 .i>e6 �cl 1 2.i>e7 Or 1 2.i>eS i>f7 1 3 .i>fS if4-+. 1 2...�b2 1 3 .i>e6 �f6 14.Ms i>f7-+
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The Wrong Bishop
( We now remrn to the position in the game after 3.st>f3 . Diagram 22-7 3...st>f5?! After this move White can realize his main idea at once. Another bad move is 3 . . .g5?, due to 4.h4!=. However, more problems arise after either 3 ... st>g5 or 3 ...i.c3. After 3 ... l!ig5 (3 ...i.c3 4.h3 1!ig5 leads to the same thing) 4.h3 (4.h4t? loses after 4...l!ih5) 4 ... i.c3, Black aims to bring his bishop to el. White has two ways to reach a draw: a} The passive 5.l!ig2 is possible. After 5 ...i.eJ 6.l!if3 I!if5 7.l!ig2 g5 (or 7... l!ie4 8.h4! - see line b2 below), there follows 8.1!if3. Diagram 22-8 This is a position of mumal zugzwang. (Find our for yourself how Black wins if it is White's move!) If Black moves his king, White immediately plays h4. After a bishop move, White first plays g4t and then h4, forcing the drawing position with the rook pawn and the wrong bishop. b} 5.l!ie2!? �f5 6.�f2 l!ie4 7.�g2! (7.�e2? i.d4! curs off the white king) and now: bl} 7...g5 8.1!if2=, intending g4 and then h4. (But not 8.g4?, due to 8 ...�el ! and the idea of h4 is defused.) b2} 7 ... i.el 8.h4! l!ie5 9.l!ih3!=, and then g4-g5 and h5. 4.h4! White realizes his plan, as described above, and brings about by force the position with the wrong bishop. Not 4.g4t? �g5-+. 4...ic3 5.g4t st>f6 6.g5t! 6.h5? g5-+ 6... st>f5 Diagram 22-9 7.h5! gxh5 8.st>g2 st>xg5= White has reached the classic drawing position.
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Diagram 22-8 (analysis) 8 7
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The presence of other pawns on the defender's side can also have a negative effect, either changing the evaluation of the position or adding important new details.
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Diagram 22-7
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Endgame 4
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'" '" f' V
Diagram 22-10 --
8
W. Von Holzhausen 1910
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
b
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Diagram 22- 1 1
1.1:t>c2! Without the b-pawn, the white king would find it easier to reach the saving corner. For example, 1.It>cl?? loses to 1 ...ii.d3, as after 2.b4t there comes 2 ...axb3!-+. 1...�a2 If the white king reaches the saving corner, the draw becomes obvious: 1 ...lt>b4 2.lt>b 1 It>b3 3.lt>al It>c2 (or 3 ...ii.d3 stalemate) 4.b4= 2.b4t! 2.b3?? loses, on account of 2 ... a3 3.1t>c3 It>b5 4.b4 It>a4 and White is in zugzwang. 2 axb3t Or 2 ... lt>xb4 3.lt>b2=. 3.lt>b2= Diagram 22-1 1 Another important theoretical fortress. Black cannot win, because of the bad position of the bishop. 3 l:t>b4 4.l:t>al lt>c3 stalemate. ••.
8 7 6 5 4
..•
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Fortress 2
f
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=
In the final example of this chapter we shall see how a World Champion in his prime was able to impose his will on a very tenacious opponent, despite the apparently drawish nature of the position caused by the wrong bishop.
Diagram 22-12 N.Short - G.Kas a�
8
Belgrade 1 989
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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1...�d3! Forcing White to move the b2-pawn. 2.b3 It>el 3.l:t>b2 1t>d2 4.l:t>al It>c2 5.1:t>a2 1t>c1 6.lt>al �bl! White is in zugzwang and must move the b4-pawn. This will give Black a b-pawn, but as White still has the b3-pawn, he will not be stalemated and will therefore lose. 0-1
216
Exercises )- Ex. 22- 1 «
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Exercises 8
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> Ex. 22-12-( 8
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a 218
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Solutions Ex. 22-1 1. ..ig3!
( l point)
1928
But not 1 ... �f4? 2.mf3 = . 2.�f3 .�.h4-+ Or 2 ...ie 1-+, cUtting off the king, as in Example 2.
1 .�fl!! (2 points) l.mf3? �g3! 2.me2 me6 3.mfI �h2 4.g4 h3-+ would be wrong. The black king reaches g5 with a win. You get 1 consolation point if you did not find the draw, bUt did suggest this variation. l .mfI ? loses an imporrant tempo compared to the main variation ( l consolation point). l ...ih2 2.g4! h3 2 ... hxg3t 3.mg2= with Fortress II. 3.�f3 �e6 4.g5 mfS 5.g6 mxg6 6.mg4= ( I point) Compare this exercise with the example from Diagram 22- 1 0.
Ex. 22-2
.Perlis 1901 1 .ia4t (1 point)
l ...�c7 2.ixd7!
( Ex. 22-4
( 1 point) But not 2.md5 d6, and Black's cwo extra pawns will win withoUt incident. 2 �xd7 3.a6! (1 point) 3.md5? loses, due to 3 ... �d3-+. Black can maintain his pawn on the b-file and therefore he wins, since the concept of the wrong bishop only exists when there is a rook pawn! 3...bxa6 4.�d5= The king runs into the saving corner and White constructs Fortress I. .•.
Ex. 22-3
K.Emmrich 1921 1.a6! The order of moves is imporranr. l .f7t would be wrong in view of 1 ...�xf7 and if 2.a6 ( J consolation point), then 2 ...b5! 3.a7 �d5-+. l...bxa6 2.f7!t Lf7 3.�f6= (2 points)
Ex. 22-5 A.DalJ Ava 1929 1 .f8�t! ( I point) White can also save himself by l .liJd7 g5 2.fS\Wt �xfS 3.liJxfS mg7 4.liJe6t �f6 5.liJc5 or 5.liJd4 (only 1 point for this variation). BUt the main line is much simpler. l...�xf8 2.1iJf7t �g8 3.liJh6t gxh6 4.'tt> c2!= (I point)
Ex. 22-6
.Uchoa 1936 1.c3! ( J point) This is the only way for White to exploit the bad position of the bishop. l...b3 2.�c1 �d3 3.�b2 �c4 4.�al! (1 point) 4...�b5 5.�b2 �a4 6.c4 �b4 7.c5 �xc5=
Fortress II 219
Solutions Ex. 22-7
Ex. 22-9
L.Prokes
A.O·anen
1 947
1 957
(1 poinr) But nor l .d l? �f5! 2.d2 a3 3.c3 �e6 4.c2 �a2 5.c3 c5-+ (see Example I ) . 1...a3 Or l...if5 2. c3! (2. c1 ? a3-+) 2 ... c5 3.b2=. ( 1 poinr) 2.c2! ( 1 poinr) Other moves lose: 2.c 1? �f5-+ or 2.c3? ie6 3.c2 ia2 4.c3 c5-+. 2...�f5t Or 2 ...ie6 3.bl=. 3.b3=
Once again White finds a way to destroy the dangerous b-pawn and thus reach the drawing position we know so well. LOO! (I poinr) L .. .boo Or l ...e7 2.c7 d7 3.ia4!. 2.�a4! bxa4 3.d2! (1 point) But not 3.'.t>dl ?, due to 3 ... �e4! 4.c1 a3-+. 3...a3 Or 3 ...ie4 4.c3!. 4.c2!= As in Ex. 22-7. 1/2-'12
Ex. 22-8
Ex. 22-10
B.Avtsarov
-
1951
1 962
L.!ba6!
Lb3!
(1 poinr) l .a3? is not so good ( 1 consolation poinr), on account of l . ..a5! 2.axb4 axb4 3.c2 ib5! 4.b2 d5 5.b3 c5 6.b2 (or 6.c2 c4 7.b2 b3 8.a3 c3 9.ltld7 b2-+) 6 ...c4 7.c2 b3t 8.b2 b4 9.b l c3-+. L .ba6 2.a3! (1 poinr) 2.b3? would be wrong, due to 2 ... c5 3.a3 �c4t-+. With 2.a3, White swaps off the dangerous b-pawn and set up Fortress I. 2 bxa3t Even if Black leaves the last white pawn on the board, he cannot crack open White's fortress. You can check it OUt for yourself on a chess board. 3.xa3=
(1 poinr) i .b5? a4 and Black wins, since the white king cannot make it into the saving corner: a) 2.c4 e4 3.c3 e3 4.b4 (4.b3 axb3-+) 4 ... d3 5.a3 ib3 6.b4 c2-+ b) 2.b4 d4 3.a3 �b3 4.b4 d3-+ 1 ...�xb3 2.bS a4 3.b4 d4 4.a3 c3 stalemate. ( 1 poinr)
••
Ex. 22- 1 1 E. Bclikov
•••
1 966
L.!b b7t! 00 Or l ...c7 2.ltla5 id5 3.d2 d6 4.c2! c5 5 .c3=. 2..!baSt! ( 1 point) 2 bxaS 3.d2 cs 4.c3 a4 S.b2= •••
220
n� _o �l�u�t� � . io ___________________S s______________�
N N
K. unker 1976 1.h4 @d4 2.hS @eS 3.h6 @f6 4..ihS!+(2 points) But nor 4 ..ic2, on accounr of 4 .. 1!If7= (see Example 2). .
•
Scoring •
Maximum number of poinrs is 25 •
22 points and above
•
� Excellent
.. ··· ·
� Good 1 8 points and above .. ·· · · · . · ··. . ..· · · ·.. · · .. · ·� Pass mark 13 points· .
•
�
tn �
Ex. 22-12
•
n
·· ·
·
Ifyou scored less than 13 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong. 221
C F-:IAP T E R Contents
23 Smothered mate
Lucena's mate Variations on Lucena's mate ../ The king is encaged in the endgame
../ ../
The smothered mate is a typical and effective
combination. A single knight mates the king, whose own pieces are blocking its escape squares.
A classic version, named after Lucena, contains a queen sacrifice in order to entice the rook to an unfavourable square.
Diagram 23-1 8
Lucena
7
149 7
6
1.�e6t \t>h8 l ...1t>f8 2.Wif7# v!ljf7t \t>g8 3.�h6t An important double check. Once again, the black king cannot move away from the corner, in view of Wif7#. 3...\t>h8 4.Wig8t!! A sacrifice involving decoying forces the rook to block the g8-square. 4...:1'!:xg8 5.�f7# This is one of the oldest and most famous mating combinations in chess.
5 4 3 2
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In this lesson we shall look at a few versions of this important tactical motif.
Diagram 23-2
E Giese - A.Buescher Bremen Blitz 1 990
In this case the decoy sacrifice only works because the bishop helps by controlling the g8-square. 1.�g8t! �xg8 2.�f7# It is not necessary for the king to be in the corner for you to be able to deliver a smothered mate!
Smothered Mate
c
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Diagram 23-3 N.N. - G.Greco
8
Europe 1620
7
1...tLlf2t! 2.c;t>el tLld3t 3.c;t>dl Or 3.Ml V!if2#. 3...'lWelt!! Once again - decoying! 4. tLlxel tLlf2#
6 5
This variation on the theme by Paul Morphy is particularly pretty.
a
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Diagram 23-4 P.Mor h
- N.N.
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Paris 1 859
l .lLlc5t c;t>bB l . ..c;t>d8 2.V!id7# 2.tLld7t c;t>cB 3.tLlb6t c;t> bB 3 ...c;t>d8 4.V!id7# 4.'lWcBt!! :gxcB 5.tLld7# The king is blocked in by five of its own pieces!
In the next cwo examples White demonstrates methods for the preparation of a smothered mate.
7 6 5 4 3
2
8
Diagram 23-5
7
M.Ta! - L.Portisch
6
Bid 1976
5
After the startling: l.tLlh6! Black resigned. He can only fend off the threat of 2.V!ig8t and then 3.CiJf7# at the COSt of great material losses: l . ..:gxe6 (l ...gxh6 2.V!ixh7#) 2.CiJxe6+-
4
223
£::,.
Diagram 23-5
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N 0.1
Tactics I I
) Diagram 23-6
Diagram 23-6 •
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. !
••
Donetsk 1961
l .b4! l.itlh6t! is also very strong: a) l.. .gxh6 2.'i1Ng4t IYh8 (or 2 ...i.g7 3.i.xh6+-) 3.'i1Nf5! Black cannot fend off the threat of'i1Nxh7#. b) If 1 ... lYh8, then 2.itlxf7t IYg8 3.'i1Nd5 i.e7 and what follows is the combination we already know, with the double check on h6 and then the smothered mate. 4.itlh6t IYh8 5.'i1Ng8t!! l"lxg8 6.itlf7# Let's rerum to the position after l . b4. Next came: 1 ...cxb4 2.WfhS! The threat is a discovered attack, winning the queen or mating on h7 (or h8). 2... @h8 If 2... b6, then 3.itle7t i.xe7 4.'i1Nxh7t IYf8 5.'i1Nh8#. 3.Wfxf7 Wfd8 4.itlh6! The threat is now 'i1Ng8#. 4.i.c4! is also good. 4 ..id6 Or 4...gxh6 5.'i1Nxh7#. Diagram 23-8 S.Wfg8t!! �hg8 6.itlf7#
..
Diagram 23-8
Sometimes the defending king is only partially hemmed in by its own pieces, but the opposing pieces control some escape squares. This version of smothered mate is not so well known, but often crops up in praxis.
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224
Q
Smothered Mate
t'
, ,.. '"
t::,.
Diagram 23-9
A.Alckhinc - N.N. Pressburg 1933
8
l .c!Llg6t cj;>h7 2.c!Lle5t cj;>h8 Or 2...ie4 3.ixe4t tLlxe4 4.Wg6t It>g8 5.Wxe8t +-. 3.c!Llrn cj;>g8 4.c!Llxh6t cj;>h8 5.§'g8t l:hg8 6.c!Llf7# The bishop on d3 is controlling the h7-square.
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
Diagram 23-10
b
c
d
e
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g
Based on ,he game
T
Diagram 23-10
Chennikov - Radchenko Krasnodar 1960
h
8
1. c!Llg3t From g3 the knight controls the escape squares fl and h I . 2. cj;>gl §'g2t!! A typical decoy! 3Jhg2 c!Llh3# •.
The next twO examples again show the strength of the discovered battery comprising knight + queen.
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
Diagram 23- 1 1
Kandolin - K.O·ancn Helsinki 1962
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Diagram 23- 1 1
1. .. c!Llg4! Not the only way to win, but the quickest way. 2 .he7 §'b6!! Never just make a recapture automatically! The threat is ... tLlf3t and then ...§'gl#. 3.cj;>hl With a hopeless position, White allows the smothered mate. The variation 3.l"le3 tLle2t! 4 .ixe2 §'xe3t 5.lt>hl tLlf2t 6.cj;>gl tLlxe4t 7.lt>h l tLlf2t 8.lt>gl tLld3t 9.lt>h l tLlxcl-+ is thematic. 3 c!Llflt 4.cj;>gl c!Lle2t! 5.he2 Other moves lead to the same result. 5 c!Llh3t 6.cj;>hl §'gl t!! 7.l"lxgl c!Llfl# •
•.•
.••
225
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� ;:
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V.l
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Tactics 1 1
) Diagram 23-12 O.Bernstein
8
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.Met er
Os!end 1 907
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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l.tLlegS! The threat is not only li:lxh3, but also li:lf7t!. 1...fxgS 2.gxd7 2.li:lxe5 is not so good, on account of2 ...�d6±. 2..J�xd7 3.tLlxeS+You should convince yourself of the fact that all queen moves lose: White either wins the queen by means of a discovered check or delivers smothered mate. Black resigned here. Ir is very useful to know the following endgame situation. A lone knight, with the modest help of the king, mates the opposing king which is hemmed in.
Diagram 23-13 Exam Ie 1
8
l .tLlg4t! �hl 2.�fl Black is in zugzwang and must block in his own king. 2...h2 3. tLlf2#
7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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226
()
Exercises )- Ex. 23- 1 �
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>Ex. 23-5�
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"j "i m ;l
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Exercises
> :>Ex. 23-7 <
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 a
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Solutions
-------<
Ex. 23-1
- akobsen �I'"'"@..t."iii Copenhagen 1967 l .Wfg7t!! tiJxg7 2.tiJh6#
4.lLle7t �fS 5.tiJg6t �g8 6.WffSt!! lM8 7.tiJe7# (2 points)
( l point)
Ex. 23-5
Fedder - H.Westerinen Roskille 1978
Ex. 23-2 Based on [he game
1 ...tiJg3t! 2.�h2 tiJfl t!
Pilar - Kvicala Prague 1899 1...lLlhg3t 2.�h2 lLlfl t 3.�hl 3.�h3 1Mlg3# 3...Wfh2t!! 4.tiJfxh2 4. tiJ gxh2 tiJ fg3# 4...lLlfg3#
(I point)
3.�hl 3.Elxfl 1Mlxg2# 3 1Mlg3! ..•
( I point) Threatening ... 1Mlh2#. White resigned, in view of 4.tiJ6g4 (4.�f4 exf4-+) 4 ...1Mlh2t!! 5.tiJxh2 tiJg3#.
(I point)
Ex. 23-3
Ex. 23-6
EKohnlein 1914
D. anowski - N.N Paris 1900
l .tiJb5t! �d8 1 ...'i!a8 3.tiJc7t \t>b8 (3... Elxc7 4.1Mlxf8t+-) 4.tiJa6t \t>a8 5.1Mlb8t!! Elxb8 6.tiJc7# (I point) 2.Wfd6t �e8 3.1Mlxe5t \t>f7 Or 3 ... \t>d8 4.1Mld6t, then 5.Ele 1 t and mate on e6. 4.tiJd6t �g8 5.Wfe6t �h8 6.tiJf7t �g8 6 ...Elxf7 7.1Mlxc8t+7.lLlh6t �h8 8.Wfg8t!! Elxg8 9.tiJf7# ( l point) Ex. 23-4
P.Mor h - B an New York 1859 l .e5! 1 .1Mlb4t \t>e8 2.e5 1Mlg5 3.h4 a5 4.1Mlxb6+- is equally good. 1...Wfg5 2.h4! Wfg4 3.Wfa3t �g8 3 ... \t>e8 4.1Mle7#
l .tiJ a6t �a8 2.tiJxc7t 2...�b8 If 2 ...Elxc7, then 3.Eld8t +-. 3.tiJa6t �a8 4.Elb7!!+-
( l point)
( I point) White threatens Elb8t. 4 e2 5.Elb8t! Elxb8 6.tiJc7# ..•
Ex. 23-7
Nikolov - Slavcev Correspondence 1 963 l .ElfSt! And Black resigned, in view of: 1..JhfS Or l . ...ixf8 2.1Mlg8#. 2.1Mlg8t Ehg8 3.lLlf7#
229
(I point)
f
Solutions Ex. 23-8 The end of a study by
A.Selets 1933
I .�b7t! (1 point) There is only a draw to be had after l .ttJe6 �f3! 2.�g8t /tJc8 3.�xc8t ltIa7=. 1....hb7 2.ttJd7!+(I point) If 2.ttJe6? �fl 3./tJc7t. then 3 ... ltIb8 4.ttJa6t ItIc8! 5.�b8t ItId7 6.�xb7t ltIe6=. 2...�d8 3.�b8t!! �xb8 4.ttJb6#
Ex. 23-9 Corr. 1979
I .e7!! l::M3 2.e8�t :afS 3.�e6t ItIh8 4.ttJ/7t ItIg8 Or 4 .. .l"lxfl 5.�e8t+-. 5.lLlh6t �h8 6.�g8t! :Sxg8 7.lLlf7# ( I point) Ex. 23-10
Scheschukov - Garmaschev USSR 1 979
I ....hf2t! ( 1 point) l...ttJg4 2.�xf6 �xf2t 3.ltIhI ttJxf6=t is not so good. 2.�xf2 If 2.ltIh I then 2...�xe 1-+. 2...lLlg4t
2...�b6t 3.ttJd4 /tJg4t-+ is equally good. 3.�gl �b6t-+ (I point) 4.�hl Or 4.ttJd4 �xd4t 5.�xd4 Elxel t 6.�f1 Elxd4-+. 4 ... lLlflt 5.�gl lLlh3t 6.�hl �gl t 7.:axgl lLlf2#
Ex. 23- 1 1
A.Salvio 1 792
I .�c2 Or 1 ./tJc5 ltIal 2.ltIc2 ltIa2 3.ttJd3 ltIal 4.ttJcl a2 5./tJb3#. (also 1 point) l ...�al 2.ttJcl a2 3.lLlb3# ( I point) Ex. 23-12
D.Ponziani 1 792
I .lLlc3! ( I point) You need twO more moves to mate after l ./tJcl +-. So only I point. l ...�hl 2.lLle4 The mate takes longer after 2./tJe2 ItIh2 3./tJd4 ItIhl 4./tJf5 ItIh2 5.ttJe3 ItIhl 6./tJfl h2 7.ttJg3#. 2...�h2 Or 2 ... h2 3.ttJg3#. 3.lLld2 �hl 4.lLlfl h2 5.ttJg3# ( I point)
230
( Scoring Maximum number of points is 19
17 points and above · · · ·· . ·· ·� Excellent 14 points and above · ..·· · · · ·
· · ·� Good 1 0 points .. · .. ··· ·· .. · ·· .. ······ ··· ·� Pass mark
Ifyou scored less than 10 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
231
C ::E--:I:.A P T E R Contents
24 Gambits
Gambits v' A lead in development and gambits v' Guidelines for defending against a gambit v'
A gambit is 'an opening in which one player offers to give up material, usually a pawn, sometimes a piece or more, in the expectation ofgaining a positional advantage. '
(The Oxford Companion to Chess) One of the advantages that is often gained by gambit play is rapid development, and we already know how important that is. For this reason, a gambit in the skilled hands of a tactical player is a powerful weapon. He ought to try to open up the game, to develop his pieces swiftly, and to prepare an arrack against the opposing king. Further sacrifices should also be considered, if they strengthen the attack.
Y.Neishtadt - N.N. Simultaneous game 1950
8 7 6 5 4
l.e4 e5 2.ic4 .!iJf6 3.d4 Diagram 24-1 White offers this thematic sacrifice to speed up his development and to open diagonals and files. This type of play is encountered not only in the Centre Game and Bishop's Opening, bur also in the Scotch Gambit and in some variations of the Two Knights Defence. 3 . exd4 It is difficult for Black to decline the offer. 3 . 4Jxe4 is not so good, because of 4.dxe5 and the threat is 5.lWd5 or first 5.ixf7t!. 4..!iJf3 Ofcourse, 4.lWxd4?! does not fit in with the previous move. After 4 ... 4Jc6 Black would gain valuable time for the development of his pieces. 4....!iJxe4 Black can also play 4 ... 4Jc6 and transpose to the Two Knights Defence. Bur there are reasons why the text move is absolutely playable: Black takes a central pawn and can later hope for superiority in the centre. 5.lWxd4 .!iJf6 5 ... 4Jd6? is bad, since the black knight would then get in the way of its own d-pawn. White can .
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Gambits
get a strong attack after 6.0-0!. On 6".'Llxc4 there follows 7J:'!e l t! 1i.e7 8.�xg7 !lf8 9.1i.h6!+- and Black loses his f8-rook for starters. 6.1i.g5 1i.e7 7. €lc3 Diagram 24-2 White develops his pieces very quickly. Black already has to play very carefully and must endeavour to complete his development with appropriate haste. 7...0-0?! This is a very natural move. But now his opponent knows where he should be aiming his attack: at the kingside! Black should delay castling and first bring the other pieces into the game. For example: 7".c6 8.0-0-0 d5 9.!lhel 1i.e6 1 0.1Wh4 'Llbd7� or 7 ".'Llc6 8.1Wh4 d6 9.0-0-0 1i.e6 1O.1i.d3 1Wd7 and Black now even has the choice of which side to castle. 8.0-0-0 €lc6?! It is very hard to play against a gambit. Accurate defence is often of the essence. A better move would be 8".c6, intending d5. The knight can then go to d7, in order to support its colleague on f6. With the text move, Black may win a tempo for his deve/opment, but this is not the way to Stop the forthcoming white kingside attack. 9.�h4 d6 10.1i.d3! An important move. White is threatening 1i.xf6, and by doing so provokes a pawn move which noticeably weakens the black castled position. 10...h6? Better would be 1 0".g6 l 1 .!lhel (with the threat !lxe7) 1 l ...1i.e6 1 2.1i.c4! 'Llh5! (but not 1 2 " .1i.xc4 1 3.!lxe7! 'Llxe7 14.1i.xf6±) and Black can still defend. Diagram 24-3 1 1 .hh6! A typical sacrifice, which opens up Black's casded position. 1 l ...gxh6 A more stubborn defence would be 1 1 . ..'Llg4 1 2.1i.g5 1i.xg5t 1 3.'Llxg5 'Llh6±. 12.�xh6 €lb4? Black wants to swap off the dangerous bishop, but when he does that, the took comes into play. After 1 2".'Lle5 comes 13.'Llxe5 dxe5: 233
Diagram 24-2
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Opening 2
And here not 14.�h7t Itlxh7 l S .�xd8, due to l S ... �gSt!-+, but rather 14.�he l !. The threat is �xeS or simply �e3-g3 with a powerful attack. Black has no defence. Instead of that, Neishtadt himself recommended 14.WlgSt!? h8 lS .�fS, but after this Black can still fight on: 1 S ...ltlh7 1 6.WlhS �gst 17.f4 �xf4t 1 8.b1 �xfS 1 9.�xd8 �xc2t 20.xc2 �axd8±. 13.itJg5! White wants to mate. There is also the very good and somewhat simpler 1 3.WlgSt @h8 14.Wlh4t and then Wlxb4. 13 ... ltlxd3t After 1 3 ... �d7 there comes 14.�h7t h8 1 S .�d4+- and then �h4. 14J:hd3 irs 15.!!g3 ig6 Diagram 24-4 16.itJe6! To fend off the immediate mate on g7, Black has to surrender his queen on d8 and play 1 6 ... ltle8 if 1 6 ...fxe6 then 17.Wlxg6t h8 1 8.Wlg7#. 1-0 How should you defend against a gambit? Should you accept your opponent's sacrifice, or is it more advisable to decline it? There is no universal answer to this question. But here are some guidelines to help you make a correct decision: 1 ) You must generally be prepared to return any material you have won, in order to complete your development. 2) Capablanca's rule: do not win a pawn if it costs you more than rwo tempi! 3) Central pawns are generally more valuable than wing pawns, so accepting the sacrifice of a central pawn is usually the best option. Also, it is often not possible to decline the sacrifice of a central pawn without it working out to your disadvantage. 4) It is even more important than in other open ings to bring your pieces into the game rapidly and to be thinking about the safety of your king. S) Be on the lookout for chances for a counterattack.
234
Gambits
t; :r
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The following game illustrates some of these ideas.
R.S ielmann - A.Alekhine Stockholm 1 9 1 2
l.e4 e5 2.�c4 ttlf6 3.d4 exd4 4.ttlf3 �c5 A1ekhine plays the opening solidly and strives for rapid development of his forces. 4... d5!? 5 .exd5 �b4t 6.c3 l';\re7t is another possibility for Black while we saw 4 ...liJxe4 in the first game. 5.0-0 What should Black play after 5.e5? 5 . . .d5! is the standard reply in such cases: 6.exf6 (if6.�b5t then 6 ... liJfd7 7.�g5 �e7) 6 ...dxc4 7.fxg7 l:"lgB leads to complicated play, with good chances for Black. 5 ... d6 5 ... liJxe4?! is worse, on account of6.l:"le1 d5 7.�xd5! l';\rxd5 B.liJc3! and White wins the knight back with a strong attack. 5 ... liJc6 Ieads to the so-called Max Lange Attack. 6.d!? Diagram 24-5 White really wants to play a genuine gambit. 6...d3!? A good practical decision. After 6... dxc3 7.liJxc3 0-0 B.�g5 the white pieces come into play quickly. Black does not want to let the opposing knight get to c3. 7.�xd3 tLlc6 8.b4 A more prudent course would be B.�g5 h6 9.�h4 �g4 1 0.liJbd2 liJe5 (A.A1ekhine), and then I l .liJxe5 dxe5 12.l';\rg3! l';\rxd2 1 3.�xf6 gxf6 14.l';\rxg4 l';\rg5 1 5.l';\rf3=. 8...�b6 9.b5 ttla5 (llttlxc4) 10.e5 Diagram 24-6 White is playing aggressively and Black must defend. lO ... dxe5 1 1.�xd8t �xd8 12.�xf7 e4 13.ttle5 (1l�a3) 13...�c5! Now the king can go to e7. 14.ttld2 l:"lfS The threat is ... �d6 winning a piece.
235
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1 5.lt'ldc4 lt'lxc4 16.ixc4 @e7 17.ig5 Diagram 24-7 17 ...id6? A very risky move. Black would be better off continuing with his development: 17".ie6! 1 8J''\ae1 @d6 19.if4 ixc4 20.iiJxc4t i>e6 and after 2 1 .�xc7 :§ac8 22.ig3 there comes 22".�xf2t 23.�xf2 :§xc4 with a level position. lS.f4?! The correct move is 1 8.:§ae 1 ! if5 (if 1 8".�xe5, then 1 9J�!xe4 and White wins the bishop back) 19.iiJf3 i>d7 20.iiJd4±. l s...if5!? Black is intending to continue with ".h6. 19.94 ie6 20.:Sfel Diagram 24-S 20...e3! A surprise. White was hoping for 20".ixe5 2l .fXe5 ixc4 22.:Sxe4+-. 21.id3!? White continues trying [0 keep the position complicated. Other possibilities are: a) 2 1 .@g2 ixe5 22.fXe5 ixc4 23.:Sxe3 i>f7 24.exf6 gxf6+ (AAlekhine) b) 2 1 . f5 �xe5 22.�xe6 �xc3 23 .ixe3 iiJxg4+ (Y.Panov) c) 21 .�xe6 i>xe6 22J'he3 ic5 23.f5t i>e7 24.�xf6t gxf6 25 .iiJc6t! i>f7 26.iiJd4 :§g8 27.:Sg3 a6 28.bxa6 l'lxa6:ii with app[Oximate equality. Diagram 24-9 21. .. @eS!? Black struggles for the initiative. He hopes [0 be able to exploit in the future the weaknesses which White's pawns have left behind in their own camp. The threat is ".�xe5 and then ".iiJxg4. 22.h3 After 22.:Sxe3 there follows 22".�c5. 22... lt'ld5 23.f5? If 23.ixh7 then 23".iiJxf4 24.ixf4 l'lxf4+ (AAJekhine). The text move is [00 optimistic. The correct idea is 23.�e4! and if23".iiJxf4, then 24.ixf4 l'!xf4 25 .ixb7 l'ld8 26.iiJd3 and White is well placed. 23 ...ixe5 24.fxe6 hc3 25.ixh7 236
Gambits
n '"
----------------------------------------------------------------------41 Threatening �g6t. Spielmann conducts the whole game in gambit style. It is remarkable how calmly Alekhine fends off all the threats. 2S . .tt:lf4! 25 .. JH3? would be bad: 26.ig6t 'it>f8 27.gfl (A.Alekhine) Alekhine also thought that after 25 ... tt:le7 26.gadl (o26.�e4!?) 26 ... ixe l there would follow 27.gd7 �b4 28.�xe7 ixe7 29.ig6t +- but he overlooked the defence 27...gf6!. Thus the game continuation is best. 26.gadl The final attempt at an attack. 26 ixel 27.gd7 (L'lge7t) 27 .. .�b4! 0-1 Black has found a simple defence. 27...tt:le2t 28.'it>g2 gf2t 29.'it>hl �b4 would be more complicated after 30.gxg7 (A.Alekhine), but Black has a win here too: 30 ...gfl t 3 1 .'it>g2 (3 1 .'it>h2 �d6t 32.'it>g2 gflt 33.'it>h l gh2#) 3 l . ..tt:lf4t! 32.'it>xfl e2t-+. .
.•.
237
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Exercises
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Exercises > Ex. 24-7<
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Ex. 24-1
Ex. 24-2
Finn - New ent Now York 1980
A.Denker - I.Avram USA 1 940
l .e4 e5 2.iLlS iLlc6 3.�c4 iLlf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 �c5 (5 ...iLlxe4 6Jlel d5 7.�xd5 Wfxd5 S.iLlc3 Wfa5 9.iLlxe4 �e6=) 6.e5 Diagram Ex. 24-1 6...d5! ( J point) 7.exf6 dxc4 8.gel t S.fxg7 ggS 9.�g5 �e7 10.�xe7 �xe7 l 1 .iLlbd2 gxg7 1 2.iLlxc4 �e6 13.gel �fS+ 8 ...ie6 9.lLlg5 9.fxg7 ggS 1 0.�g5 �e7 ( J 0...Wfd5 l 1 .iLlc3 Wff5 12.iLle4 gxg7 1 3.iLlh4+-) 1 1 .�xe7 �xe7 ( J I ...Wfxe7 1 2.iLlxd4 0-0-0) 1 2.iLlbd2 Wfd5+ 9 ...Wld5 9... Wfxf6 10.iLlxe6 fxe6 I 1 .Wfh5t+10.iLlc3 WlfS l 1.iLlce4 if8 Good alternatives to the text move are I I ...�b6 and 1 1 ...0-0-0!? 12.lLlxf7 �xf7 13.lLlg5t �g8 The following long variarion is not forced, but is given to illustrate the possibilities for both sides: 1 3...�g6 14.fxg7 (0 14.iLlxe6!?) �xg7 1 5.gxe6t �f6 1 6.g4 Wfd5 17.iLlh3 �fl I s.iLlf4 Wfc5 1 9.Wff3 !3hfS 20.b4! iLlxb4 2 1 .Wfe4 �gS 22.iLlh5 (S.Lepeshkin) and now 22 ...Wfd5!=t=. 14.g4! 14.iLlxe6 !3eS!= 14 ...Wlxf6? Of course, not 14...Wfxg4t?? 1 5 .Wfxg4 �g4 16.fl#. But better would be 1 4...Wfg6. After 14 ... Wfd5 1 5 .iLlxe6 iLle5? comes 1 6.flt! �xfl 17.iLlg5t �gS - see Ex. 24-2. 15.gxe6 Wld8 16.Wlf3 Wld7 See Ex. 24-3
18.!he5! Wlxe5 19.Wlf3+(2 points)
1-0 Ex. 24-3 Finn - New ent New York 1980
White must play very energetically or else Black will develop his pieces. Nexr came: 17.ge7!!+(2 points) Black resigned in view of 1 7...Wfxe7 ( J 7. . .�xe7 I S .Wffl#; 1 7... iLlxe7 IS.Wffl#) I S.Wfd5t +-.
Ex. 24-4 8.Avrukh - A.Skri chenko Linares 2001 l.e4 e5 2.�c4 iLlf6 3.d4 exd4 4.iLlf3 iLlxe4 5.Wfxd4 iLlf6 6.iLlc3 c6 7.�g5 d5 S.O-O-O �e7 9.Wfh4 iLlbd7 (o9 ...�e6;;;) 1 0.!3hel dxc4 1 1 .�xf6 gxf6 1 2.iLle4 0-0 1 3.iLlg3 �hS 14.iLlf5 �c5 (ol 4...�b4) 1 5.Wfh5 (O I 5 .!3e4) 1 5 ...c3 1 6.!3e4 Wfb6 1 7.b3 ggS I s .Wfxfl Wfa5 1 9.9xd7 �a3t 20.�bl Wfxf5 Diagram Ex. 24-4 21 .ge8!+(2 points) Bur not 2 1 .Wfxgst?? �xgS 22.geSt due to 22...�fS. After rhe text move Black resigned in view of 2 l .. .Wfg6 (2 l ...�xd7 22.WfxgS#; 2 l ...�f8 22.!3xfS+-) 22.!3xgSt WfxgS 23.Wfxf6t+-.
240
S_o lu o_ n_ s __ _t_i_
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_
Ex. 24-5 M.Euwe
14...d3!
R.Reti Amsterdam 1920 -
(1 point) 8 ...�a5 s ... WIdS!? 9.l'lxe4t (9.ltJxe4 �e7) 9 ...�e7 1O.ltJxd4 f5 I I .l'lf4 0-0 1 2.ttlxc6 WIxdlt 1 3.ttlxdl bxc6= 9.ltJxd4? Bener is 9 .ltJxe4 �e6= after which Black will castle queenside. 9... tLlxd4 1O.�xd4 f5 1 1.�g5 �c5! 12.�d8t cj;>f7 13.tLlxe4 fxe4 14.l'ladl �d6! 15.�xh8 �xg5 16.£4 �h4 17.l'lxe4 �h3! 18.�xa8-+ See Ex. 24-6
-
Moscow
R.Reti 1 920
(1 point) 19.cj;>hl 1 9.Ml WIf2# 19 ixg2t! 20.cj;>xg2 WIg4t 21.cj;>fl �f3t 22. cj;>el �f2# (1 point) ..•
'12_1/2
Ex. 24-9
Ex. 24-7
Canete
� � f�!I' 1 994
Valby
l .e4 e5 2.ltJf3 ltJc6 3.d4 exd4 4.�c4 ltJf6 5.0-0 ttlxe4 6.l'lel d5 7.ixd5 WIxd5 S.ttlc3 WIa5 9.ltJxe4 �e6 1 0.ltJeg5 0-0-0 I l .ltJxe6 lXe6 1 2.l'lxe6 �d6 1 3.WIe2?! (0 1 3.ig5=) 1 3 ... WIh5! 14.�d2? ( 14.WIe4 l'lheS 1 5.�d2 ltJe5 1 6JheS ltJxf3t 1 7.gxf3 �xh2t I S.l!?g2 l'lxeS+; 14.h3 l'lheS)
1955
l .e4 e5 2.ltJf3 ttlc6 3.�c4 ltJf6 4.d4 exd4 5 .0-0 ltJxe4 6.l'lel d5 7.�xd5 WIxd5 S.tLlc3 WIa5 9.ltJxe4 ie6 1O.tLleg5 0-0-0 I l .ltJxe6 lXe6 12'l'lxe6 �d6 1 3.�g5 l'ldeS 14.WIe2 Diagram Ex. 24-8 14... cj;>d7!= (2 points) Black fights for the open file. 1 4 .. Jlxe6 is not so bad ( 1 point), nor 1 4. . .l'lefS (1 point), but the move in the game is more logical. 15.l'le4 If 1 5 .l'le1 , then Black plays 1 5 ... WIxe1 t 1 6.Wfxe1 l'lxe6+. 15 ...�f5 16.l'lel l'lxe4 17.�xe4 �xe4 18.l'lxe4 13e8=
1 8...�c5t!
""
Diagram Ex. 24-7
Ex. 24-8
Ex. 24-6 Amsterdam
_ _ _ _ _ _
(2 points) 15.�e4 1 5.cxd3 ltJd4!-+ or 1 5.WIxd3? �xh2t-+. 1 5...tLld4-+ 16.g4 tLlxf3t 17.WIxf3 �xh2t 18.cj;>fl l'lhfS 19.�g2 l'lxf2t 20.�xf2 20.I!?xf2 l'lfSt-+ 20...�h lt-+ White resigned, in view of 2 I .WIgl l'lfSt-+.
l .e4 e5 2.ltJf3 ltJc6 3.�c4 ltJf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 ltJxe4 6.l'lel d5 7.�xd5 WIxd5 Diagram Ex. 24-5
M.Euwe
....( ... �
n
1 991
l .e4 e5 2.�c4 ltJf6 3.d4 exd4 4.tLlf3 ttlc6 5.0-0 ltJxe4 6.l'le1 d5 7.�xd5 WIxd5 S.ltJc3 WIa5 9.tLlxe4 ie6 10.id2 �b4 1 l .tLlxd4 tLlxd4 1 2.c3 �e7 1 3.cxd4 WId5 1 4.if4 c6 1 5 .tLlc3 WId7 1 6.WIa4 In the game, Black saw White's idea and played the correct 1 6... b5!= 17.WIa5 0-0 l S.l'lad1 l'lfeS 1 9.h3 Y2-V2.
24 1
ill ):i N ..I:>-.
:!
Solutions
t) <
Instead of that, 1 6...0-0?! would have lead co the test position. Diagram Ex. 24-9 17.d5! ( 1 point) This is the only way for White co get an advantage. 17...ifS 17 ...cxdS? 1 8.Wfxd7+- or 1 7 ....ixdS? 1 8.ttlxdS+-. 18.dxc6 Or 1 8.d6 .if6 1 9.EladU. 18... bxc6 19.9adH Ex. 24-10
(2 points) 14...hf2t 15.i>xf2 ne6 16.Wfd7t i>£8 17.i>g3! Wfxc5 1 7... ttleS 1 8.ttlxe6t i>g8 19.�xg7# 18.gfl t WffS 19.9xfSt exfS 20.WfxfSt i>e8 21.Wfe6t i>£8+See Ex. 24- 1 1
Ex. 24-1 1 Variation from the game USSR Ch, Moscow
1920
22 .ic1!+•
Variation from the game USSR Ch, Moscow
13...Wfb6 14.tLldxe6
1920
l .e4 eS 2.ttlf3 ttlc6 3 ..ic4 tLlf6 4.d4 exd4 S.O-O tLlxe4 6.gel dS 7. .ixdS �xdS 8.ttlc3 �c4 (8...�aS) 9.ttlxe4 .ie6 1 0..igSoo .ib4 I l .b3 �a6? (1 l...�dS!? 1 2.c3 5!) 1 2.ttlxd4! In the game Black sponed the danger and played the superior 12 ... 0-0, bue despite that he was unable co save his inferior position, and he eventually lost: 1 3.ttlxe6 fxe6 14.c3 �a3 I S.b4 gfS 1 6.�b3 ttleS 17.b5 ttlf3t 1 8.gxf3 ElxbS 1 9.�dl !b2 20.gbl ixc3 21 .ElxbS �xbS 22.ge3 �aS 23.gd3 cS 24.gd7 c4 2s.ih6 �hS 26. .ixg7 �g6t 27.i>fl !d8 28 ..ic3 .ih4 29.�d4 1-0. 12 ... .ixe I? would have lead to the test position. Diagram Ex. 24-10 13.tLlc5! 1 3 .ttlxe6 ixf2t! 14.i>xf2 fxe6 I S.ttlcS is not so good (1 consolation point for this variation), on account of I S...O-ot!-+.
(2 points) 22.!e3!+- is equally good. 22.�d7 is not bad ( 1 point), but the activation of the bishop decides things immediately. 22...ge8 Or 22... aS 23.ia3t ttlb4 24.c3+-. 23 ..ta3t tLle7 24..txe7t gxe7 See Ex. 24-1 2
Ex. 24-12 Variation from the game USSR Ch, Moscow
1920
The strongest continuation is 25.WffSt!+-
242
(2 points) Black loses a rook: a) 2S ... i>e8 26.�c8t i>f7 27.�xh8+b) 2S ... i>g8 26.�c8t i>f7 27.�xh8+c) 2S ...gf7 26.�c8t i>e7 27.�xh8+Only I point for 2S.�c8t.
Ci ! >
( �. m
tv �
Maximum number of points is 21
18 points and above· ·· · .. ·· ·· > Excellent
d 1 5 poi nts and above.. ·· ··· · ·· .. ········> Goo .> Pass mark 1 1 points· · ···· · . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . ... .
Ifyou scored less than 1 1 points, we recommend that you read the chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
*
*
*
The following final test will highlight your individual strengths and weaknesses in the various areas of chess we have studied: tactics, positional play, strategy, the calculation of variations, the opening and the endgame. This will give you a better idea of where you need to take special care!
243
Final Test
) >F-l <
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Final Test > F-7�
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Final Test
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Final Test >F-22-(
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(
Solutions
) F-l Tactics/Chapter 7 Simultaneous game, Great Britain
Black resigned, in view of 1 ...l!txh7 2.l:!h3t I!tg7 3 .�h6t I!th7 4.�xf8#. (1 point)
1870
I .tLle6t!
F-6 Tactics/Chapter 1 3
(1 point)
1 ...'t!?e8 l ...fxe6 2.�a5t b6 3.'?;\rxd3 bxa5 4.'?;\rc3+2.tLlbc7#
- A.M iI�i mman Amsterdam
1 985
(2 points) But not 1.I!tg2?, because of 1 ...f4! 2.l!th3 I!td3! 3.l!th4 I!te2! 4.l!tg4 I!te3-+. 1 ...'t!?e3 2.'t!?g2 't!?xf4 3.'t!?f2=
1 .�xe5! 1 .1Wd5t? You get only 1 consolation point for this, as Black has the following defence: l . ..l:!£7! 2.�xe5 1Wxd5 3.cxd5 fxe5 1 ... fxe5 2.1Wd5!t+(3 points) Black resigned, because of 2".1Wxd5 3 .lLlxe7t+-.
F-3 Endgame /Chapter 4
F-7 Tactics/Chapter 2
I .f4!
l...f4!
F-2 Endgame /Chapter 4
Schitkevic - Fain Minsk 1930
(2 points) But not 1 ...l!te3? 2.f4!=. See F-2. 2.'t!?f2 2 .l!tg2 l!te3-+ 2...'t!?d3 3.'t!?f1 't!?e3 4.'t!?el 't!?xf3-+ If you did not solve exercises 2 and 3, we recommend that you repeat Chapter 4.
F-4 Tactics/Chapter 1 5 Breslau
l.lLlxe5! l ...hdl 2.�b5t c6 3.dxc6
(another 1 point) 3...e6 3".1Wc7 4.cxb7t I!td8 5.lLlx£7# 4.cxb7t l!te7 5.lLlc6t I!tfG 6.lLlxd8 l:!xd8 7.lLlxd1+1-0
1 879
l.�g7t! 1Wxg7 2.1We8t+1 ... 't!?c7!
( 1 point)
1-0 F-5 Tactics/Chapter 1 New York
1889
( I point)
F-8 Endgame/Chapter 1 0
(I point) Not 1 . ..l!ta7?, on account of2.a5 (also good is 2.l!tc6 1!ta6 3.l!td6!+-) 2".bxa5 3.l!txa5+-. 2.'t!?a6 2.c5 bxc5 3.l!txc5= 2...'t!?c6 3.'t!?a7 I!tc7!= (1 point)
248
Solutions
(
F-9 Strategy/Chapter 8 USSR Ch, Moscow
F-l 1 Tactics/Chapter 2 1 A.Yusu ov - V.SaIov Paris rapid 1 991
1 952
l .e5!
1. ..\Wxe7!!
(2 points) 1 point for 1 .:ad 1 . After the text move, White obtains control over the imporrant d6-square. l ...tLld5 2.tLle4 tLlf8 2 ... tLlc7 3.tLld6 tLle8 and now 4.tLlc8 (M.Borvinnik), 4.tLlxf7 and 4.ixg6 all win. 3.tLld6 The threat is 4.tLlc8 or 4.iiJxf7 :axf7 (4 ...Wxf7 5.�e6t!) 5 .ie6+- (M.Borvinnik). 3 ...'I�c7 4.ie4 tLle6 4 ...:axd6!? 5 .exd6 "lWxd6 6.ixd5 cxd5 7.:ae5+- (M.Borvinnik) 5."lWh4 g6 6.ixd5! cxd5 7.:ac1 7.:ae3 would be worse, on account of 7...:axd6!± (M.Borvinnik). 7 \Wd7 8J;�c3 �fB± See F l O. •••
F-I0 Calculating variations/Chapter 18 M.Botvinnik
- P.Keres
USSR Ch, Moscow 1952
l.tLlfS! (I point) 1 .:ah3?! f5! 2.exf6?? "lWxd6 would not be so good (M.Borvinnik). 1...gfe8 If l . . .:aee8, then 2.tLlh6t Wh8 3."lWf6t tLlg7 4.tLlxf7t+- while l . ..gxf5 loses after 2.:ag3t Wh8 3."lWf6t+-. (I point) 2.tLlh6t!? (Xf7) 2 Wf8 3.\W£6 tLlg7 4.gcf3+The threat is 5."lWxf7t :axf7 6.:axf7t "lWxf7 7.:axf7# (M.Borvinnik). 4...:ac8 5.tLlxf7 ge6 6."lWg5 tLlfS 7.tLlh6 "lWg7 8.g4 1-0 •••
2.tLlxc3 2.tLlxe7 :adl t 3.Wg2 gd2-+
( 1 point)
( I point) 2 ...\Wb4 3.'I1!1lb2 gd3 4.tLle2 \Welt 5.'i!?g2 gd2 6."lWxe5 'I1!1lxe2t 7.i>h3 'I1!1lxh2t 8.Wg4 "lWe2t 9.i>h3 'I1!1lfl t 10.i>g4 gd8 1 1.'I1!1le7 gf8 12.e4 'I1!1lf3t 13.Wh3 h5 14.b4 'I1!1lhl#
F-12 Tactics/Chapter 2 1 .Pol ar - N.Short Monaco 1993 l.g5!! ( 1 point) Nothing is achieved by 1 .ga5 ( I consolation point) l ...:ab7. If 1 .:ad6 (also 1 consolation point) then l ...:ae5t and 2 ...Wg6. l...fxg5 2.gd8! (2 points) Black resigned, since he can no longer stop the passed pawn.
F-13 Positional play/Chapter 20 M.Botvinnik - I.Kan USSR Ch, Leningrad 1 939 l.tLle4! (2 points) This is how White takes control of the d5-square. l...'I1!1ld8 2.tLlxf6t Not 2.tLlxc5?, due to 2 ..."lWb6. 2...'I1!1lxf6 3.i.e4± White is set to occupy the d5-square.
249
Solutions
) F-14 Tactics/Chapter 23
l .l!1e5? �e3-+ 1 ...gxh6 l ...g5?? 2.h7+2.l!1e5
---P.Stamma 1792
l.ttJb3t! Equally good is 1 .1!1c2! l!1a2 2.ltlf3 l!1al 3.ltld4 1!1a2 4.ltle2 l!1al 5.ltlcl a2 6.ttJb3#. 1 ...1t>a2 2.ttJc5 lt>al 3.lt>c2 1t>a2 4.ttJd3 The knight goes to c l . 4 lt>al 5.ttJcl a2 6.ttJb3# (2 points)
(2 points) 2 ... h5 3.1!1xf5 h4 4.lt>g4 1t>f6 5.lt>h3 It>g5 6.lt>g2=
F-18 Tactics/Chapter 15
•..
1969
F-15 Tactics/Chapter 5
1.�h8t!! ( I point) 1. .'�xh8 l ...1!1f7 2.W1g6t l!1e7 3.W1xg7t I!1d6 4JlxdSt 2.Wfh5t+Black resigned in view of 2 ...l!1gS (2...i.h6 3.W1xh6t I!1gS 4.i.e6#) 3.i.e6t Ms 4Y.fJf7#. ( 1 point) •
1 9 56
l .ttJxe6t It>e8 2.Wfffit!! (1 point)
2 i.xffi 3.ttJg7# Or 3.ltlc7#. .•.
F-16 Endgame/Chapter 1 6
F-19 Calculating variations/Chapter I S
G . Greco
V.Khenkin
1 792
- Lebedev
1 961
1.1t>f4! Not 1 .W1g5t I!1h2 and White can no longer win, because Black has a stalemate defence, e.g. after 2.W1d2 Black plays 2 ...l!1h l !. 1...flWft Or l ...l!1hl 2.W1e2! (2.lt>g3? flltlt) 2 ... l!1g2 3.l!1g4 1!1g1 4.l!1g3 fl Wl 5.W1h2#. 2.lt>g3+(2 points) 1-0
l.Wfa5! (1 point) 1 .�xa6 ( I consolation point) achieves nothing after 1 ...'.wxa6, as 2.i.xd4?? fails to 2 ...:i"ldS-+. If l .ixd4 ixd4 2.i.xa6 (also I consolation point) then 2 ...i.xf2t=. 1. ..ttJc7 2.Wff5!+(2 points) 1-0
F-20 Tactics/Chapter I I
F-17 Endgame/Chapter 22
Durao - Catozzi Dublin 1 957
1 927
l.h6!
( 1 point) 250
<
So l ut� io _s _n
...
_ _ _ _ _ _
F-21 Tactics/Chapter 1 7
F-23 Positional play/Chapter 6
E.Cook
The end of a study by
1864
C.Hill ard 1982
1.
